Protect our Tobbaco Board

Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of Tobacco. Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) is the Head quarters of Tobacco Board. The board was incorporated in 1976 to support the farmers and traders in the view of market demand and production. It has been supporting farmers in all activities like supply inputs (seeds) with the help of CTRI and ITC, supply of Coal for curing tobacco, Pesticides and fertilizers at competitive prices, arranging farm credit to tobacco growers, facilitates Group personal accident policy and Barn insurance policies, moreover auction system to support the farmers with minimum support price and Correct weighment and prompt payment.
Thanks to Tobbacoboard http://www.indiantobacco.com.

Interestingly, the Centre has kept the Tobacco Board in limbo since last year by not appointing board members to manage its affairs. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly directed that the board should be abolished, thereby dismantling the state's interest in the crop.
This is an anti farmer reform as I feel. I strongly protest these liberalisation policies. Is there any political linkage or any lobbying…?. I don’t accept such a bad fate to Tobacco Board. So my dear farmers… we should fight for protect our supportive Tobacco Board
(Courtecy :Times of India)

Heart wrenching

Farmers turned to construcion labor

Palamoor( Andhra Pradesh) farmers are migrating to urban areas as construction labor.It has been caused by Economic instability,severe drought condition, moreover Problems are complex and policy-driven.
The state Government is yet to take strides in irrigation sector, though it speaks of a policy on papers.The government has to start the rural credit system to support the farmers and building rural employment to keep away from migration.

In my openion " If a village loses its quality farmers to the cities as labor, it’s disastrous for us and the government. It’s like India losing all her quality professionals to the USA"
(Sorrowful documentary in Google Videos. Great job of ZeeTV)

Mr.Lucky Ali

Indian farmers for once could have luck on their side with well known singer Lucky Ali singing for their cause. Ali sang at a concert in New Delhi on May10th ,2006 in Siri Fort Auditorium as a part of 'Oxfam Make Trade Fair ' campaign, urging people to sign a petition to save Indian farmers from exploitation. The Oxfam campaign is battling against what they term as unfair WTO agricultural trade rules that force developing South Asian countries to open their markets for foreign farmers to bring in their produce. The resultant cheap imports force Indian farmers to sell their produce at low rates leading to rise in poverty levels.

Ali's association with Oxfam has led him to field trips in various villages and one-to-one interaction with poverty-stricken farmers. Ali said, "Indian farmers don't get any representation from the agricultural sector, while America and EU go all the way to provide subsidies to their farmers which almost covers their cost of production.

Being a farmer himself, Ali believes it is his duty to stand for this humanitarian cause, speak up for the Indian farmers and spark motivation in them. "This is the only way to save our farmers from committing suicide, as agriculture is not a business in India but a way of life," he added.

Agrarian distress

FOR WANT OF A PAIR OF BULLOCKS: Bheemrao Manigempure, a small farmer of Kadlabad village in Bidar district, Karnataka, with his son Shivasharanappa and daughter-in-law Saraswati. While the two men pull the plough, she helps them, sowing, de-weeding, or adding fertiliser and pesticides.
The family has a huge loan to repay. Bheemrao owns a small tract of land, which is anything but fertile. '`Any one else would have hanged himself by now,'' is how he explains his life. Reforms mean nothing to them.
The State Agriculture Minister and district in-charge says his ``Government understands that Bidar is one of the poorest districts in the country. We are trying to help the families that need immediate assistance.'' The question is when will this help come. Bidar district is part of the semi-arid and drought-prone belt of northern Karnataka and has been susceptible to periodic droughts. (Courtecy : The Hindubusinessline)

Who is Responsible for this