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AP involves farmers in policy-making

Ch. Prashanth Reddy

Algole ( AP), July 1

A UNIQUE event, which probably will be a milestone in democratic governance, is being held at the Krishi Vignan Kendra of Deccan Development Society (DDS) at Algole village in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh.

The event called "prajateerpu" (people's verdict) comprises a farmers jury where small and marginal farmers, mostly women, have taken the place of judges in a court to examine three different visions for the future of agriculture in the State.

The event is being held in the backdrop of a general criticism that farmers, the real stake-holders in agriculture, are not being consulted while formulating agricultural policies.

It is being organised jointly by the Andhra Pradesh Coalition in Defence of Diversity, International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED) of U. K. and Institute of Development Studies, Sussex.

DDS Director, Mr. P. V. Sateesh, said that the jury's verdict would be presented to the State and the Union Governments apart from the World Bank. He was hopeful that the verdict would have implications for policy makers at the national and international level.

The jury consists of 18 small and marginal farmers, two-thirds of which are women. They heard the views of experts on three agricultural scenarios for three days since June 26. The whole process has been observed by an Oversight Panel chaired by Justice P. B. Sawant, Chairman of the Press Council of India. The jury is currently deliberating on the view points put forth by the speakers and would shortly announce its judgement.

The first agricultural scenario consisted of the Vision 2020 document put forward by the A. P. Government and has been backed by a loan from the World Bank. It proposes to consolidate small farms and rapidly increase mechanisation and modernisation. Prod uction enhancing technologies will be introduced in farming and food processing, reducing the percentage of population dependent on land from 70 to 40 by 2020.

The second scenario comprised an export-based cash crop model of organic production linked to national and international markets. The third scenario is about localised food systems based on increased self-reliance for rural communities and low external i nput agriculture.

Those who addressed the jury included Dr. M. V. Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of Achrya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Mr. Agbal Rao, A. P. Additional Director of Agriculture, Dr. K. P. C. Rao, Principal Scientist, Economic Planning , National Academ y for Agricultural Research and Management, Dr. Partha Dasgupta of Syngenta, Mr. P. Chengal Reddy, President of the A. P. Federation of Farmers Associations, Mr. Colin Hines, Associate of International Forum on Globalisation and various other experts on agriculture.

IIED Research Associate, Dr. Michel Pimbert, told Business Line that the event was aimed at brining the voice of the poor into the decisions on the future of agricultural markets and the rural society. It took almost four months of effort to organise the event.

He said that as a beginning non-government organisations, the donor organisations such as the Dutch Government and scientists were asked to nominate the jury members. Following this, IIED received 110 nominations from across the State. Later, through a r igorous selection process, 18 people were nominated for the jury.

The criteria for selection was that the nominated persons should not be affiliated to any political party, they should be small and marginal farmers, preferably dalits and reasonably articulate to express their views.

Mr. Pimbert said that similar events would be held by IIED at Peru and Indonesia next year. While the emphasis would be on the production of transgenic potatoes in Peru, in Indonesia it would be on food futures and land reforms.

Picture: Members of the Farmers Jury on a field visit at Krishi Vignan Kendra of the Deccan Development Society at Algole in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh.

Picture by A. Roy Chowdhury