Realities of rural women across South Asia - a report from North India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka by La Via Campesina South Asia | 8 Mar 2015 Bangladesh | India | Sri Lanka | food sovereignty | actions Though the word “farmer” is gender neutral, when people think of farmers, they automatically picture men. This is so internalized that we have to specify “women farmers” to address the significant half of ‘the farming world’. The blindness to women in agriculture goes beyond language; the visible-invisible contribution of women in the agriculture sector and rural society is completely neglected. Members of LVC South Asia take this day as an opportunity to share the realities of rural women in each of our areas – farmers facing sexual violence in North India, religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh, and militarism in Sri Lanka. Though the word “farmer” is gender neutral, when people think of farmers, they automatically picture men. This is so internalized that we have to specify “women farmers” to address the significant half of ‘the farming world’. The blindness to women in agriculture goes beyond language; the visible-invisible contribution of women in the agriculture sector and rural society is completely neglected. Members of LVC South Asia take this day as an opportunity to share the realities of rural women in each of our areas – farmers facing sexual violence in North India, religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh, and militarism in Sri Lanka.
Street vendors join Global Day of Action: hundreds march to Walmart India headquarters by India FDI Watch | 19 Nov 2014 India | corporations | food sovereignty | laws & policies A street vendor in India would need to work for a staggering 350 million years to amass the same amount of wealth as the supermarket's owners, the Walton family – this is just one of the findings of new research by UNI Global Union ahead of worldwide protests against the family's role in global inequality today. A street vendor in India would need to work for a staggering 350 million years to amass the same amount of wealth as the supermarket's owners, the Walton family – this is just one of the findings of new research by UNI Global Union ahead of worldwide protests against the family's role in global inequality today.
Agriculture in 'terrible crisis': Indian farmers are struggling to survive by Devinder Sharma | 25 Aug 2014 India | food sovereignty | laws & policies The effort by the World Trade Organization to reshape Indian agricultural policies comes at a time when Indian agriculture is faced with a terrible agrarian crisis. The environmental impacts of the intensively-farmed Green Revolution have become a full-blown crisis of sustainability. With soil fertility devastated, water tables plummeting as a result of relentless water mining, environmental contamination from excessive use and abuse of chemical pesticides, the entire farming equation has gone wrong. The effort by the World Trade Organization to reshape Indian agricultural policies comes at a time when Indian agriculture is faced with a terrible agrarian crisis. The environmental impacts of the intensively-farmed Green Revolution have become a full-blown crisis of sustainability. With soil fertility devastated, water tables plummeting as a result of relentless water mining, environmental contamination from excessive use and abuse of chemical pesticides, the entire farming equation has gone wrong.
India's new milky way by Jyotika Sood | 4 Feb 2014 India | food sovereignty Private players are entering the Indian dairy market in a big way. Dairy cooperatives, which ushered in the White Revolution, need to expand and strengthen their network to protect the interests of small dairy farmers. But the cooperatives are hampered by political interference, unsustainable subsidies and poor marketing strategies. In such a scenario, the National Dairy Development Board is promoting a model—milk producer companies—to compete with private companies. Is it the right strategy? Private players are entering the Indian dairy market in a big way. Dairy cooperatives, which ushered in the White Revolution, need to expand and strengthen their network to protect the interests of small dairy farmers. But the cooperatives are hampered by political interference, unsustainable subsidies and poor marketing strategies. In such a scenario, the National Dairy Development Board is promoting a model—milk producer companies—to compete with private companies. Is it the right strategy?
India: GMOs on their way out? by Nature.com | 24 Oct 2012 India | technologies A Technical Expert Committee appointed by the Indian Supreme Court wants all open GMO field trials stopped and calls for a re-examination of biosafety data on all GM crops already in the field and a whole series of limitations to planting GM crops in the country. Here is a note from Nature.com that gives a summary. A Technical Expert Committee appointed by the Indian Supreme Court wants all open GMO field trials stopped and calls for a re-examination of biosafety data on all GM crops already in the field and a whole series of limitations to planting GM crops in the country. Here is a note from Nature.com that gives a summary.
Seeds of freedom - the movie by Gaia, ABN | 13 Jun 2012 Ethiopia | India | United States | corporations | seeds & biodiversity Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. Worth to see! Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. Worth to see!
With a corporate culture built on bribery, Walmart was running with plenty to hide by Wade Rathke, Acorn International | 25 Apr 2012 India | Mexico | corporations A recent New York Times article exposed how Walmart paid at least $24 million in bribes to facilitate its expansion in Mexico. Wade Rathke of Acorn International wonders whether the same system has been active in Walmart's work to expand and find a foothold in India where their efforts and others to modify the restrictions on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail have been huge political issues in recent months, bringing government to a standstill at some points. A recent New York Times article exposed how Walmart paid at least $24 million in bribes to facilitate its expansion in Mexico. Wade Rathke of Acorn International wonders whether the same system has been active in Walmart's work to expand and find a foothold in India where their efforts and others to modify the restrictions on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail have been huge political issues in recent months, bringing government to a standstill at some points.
"We are not landowners," Cargill CEO tells BBC by GRAIN | 3 Oct 2011 India | land grabbing | corporations ....but the company's hedge fund has 50,000 hectares of land in South America and is spending $400 million on factory dairy farms in Asia. ....but the company's hedge fund has 50,000 hectares of land in South America and is spending $400 million on factory dairy farms in Asia.
Syngenta draws on funds from the Indian government to promote its hybrid rice seeds and pesticides by | 29 Aug 2011 hybrid rice | India An article in domain-b is reporting that the Swiss seeds and pesticide giant Syngenta will be drawing on funds from the Indian government for the promotion of its hybrid rice seeds and pesticides. An article in domain-b is reporting that the Swiss seeds and pesticide giant Syngenta will be drawing on funds from the Indian government for the promotion of its hybrid rice seeds and pesticides.
India’s role in the new global farmland grab by Rick Rowden | 19 Aug 2011 India New report by Rick Rowden provides a detailed examination of the role of the Indian government and Indian companies engaged in overseas agricultural land acquisitions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. New report by Rick Rowden provides a detailed examination of the role of the Indian government and Indian companies engaged in overseas agricultural land acquisitions in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
An open letter to Oxfam America by | 12 Apr 2010 Burkina Faso | India | South Africa | China | technologies | actions An Oxfam America project concludes that “transgenic crops offer enormous possibilities". The open letterr, co-signed by GRAIN, expresses concern. An Oxfam America project concludes that “transgenic crops offer enormous possibilities". The open letterr, co-signed by GRAIN, expresses concern.