The Hindu Business Line : <I>Yatra</I> to promote <I>desi </I>seeds evokes good response

The three-State `beej yatra', launched by 10 farmers' associations and non-governmental organisations, has evoked good response in Andhra Pradesh, with the activists explaining to the farmers the deepening crisis on the seed front.

"We have launched the yatra to tell how they are being forced to buy MNC seeds. We appealed to the farmers to save the desi seeds and oppose MNC seeds," Mr Mahendra of the Delhi-based Navadanya Trust, which spearheaded the yatra, said.

The yatra, which was started by noted environmentalist Ms Vandana Shiva at Sevagram (Maharashtra) on May 9 to mark the 150 years of First War of Indian Independence, has covered the districts of Adilabad and Karimnagar and entered Warangal district on Monday evening.

Speaking to Business Line over phone, he said the activists have been distributing packets of desi seeds.

"We have been asking them to regenerate them and use seeds. We also told them to use natural inputs and not to go for pesticides," Mr Mahendra said.

After covering a few more districts in Andhra Pradesh, the activists would tour Bidar, Gulbarga and Chitradurg before completing the yatra in Bangalore on May 26.

Prof. K.R. Chowdhary, who is coordinating the yatra, said the policies of the Government are making the farming community in the country to increasingly depend on multi-national companies.

"The Government has completely failed controlling spurious seeds. It is delaying in bringing out the Seed Act," he said. Alleging that the proposed Act was aimed at benefiting the seed companies and businessmen, he demanded that the Government rework the draft in order to make it useful to the farmers," he said."

The yatra is aimed at bringing awareness among the farmers on the deepening seed crisis and the importance of practicing sustainable agriculture methods," he said.