If the money is earned and stashed by unfair, illegal, corruptive practices and kept in secret to avoid the taxes is called BLACK MONEY. Circulation of unaccounted money is big a threat to economy and loss of revenue to the government. The generation of black money is against to basic objectives of economic planning for India, those are eradicate of poverty, removal of disparities of poor and rich, generation of employment and building the nation.Money laundering is the practice of engaging in financial transactions to conceal the identity, source, or destination of illegally gained money, but in actual scenario the definition has broadened by governments and international authorities.
The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act of India (PMLA) - enacted in 2002 and came into effect on 1 July 2005 which prevents money laundering and the parallel economy. According to this act, Reserve bank of India has given the guidelines on the cash transactions, deposit tracking, reporting, operation and maintenance of the records to the all financial institutions and non banking companies, I.e KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER (KYC).However the domestic black money is turning around in our economy and it is productive up to some extent. But we need to think about the money which was stashed in foreign banks are not useful to India. Some of the estimates are stating that a $1500 billions (about 70 lakhs Crores) of Indian unaccounted money is lying in Swiss and other foreign banks. This is the highest amount accumulated outside any country, from among the countries of the world. If that money brings back to India, every family in our country would get nearly Rs. 2.5 Lakhs, the national debt will be cleared and people would get a tax- free budget for 30 years.
Just for your information that Hinduja Brothers (Bofors guys) started a Swiss regulated bank (http://www.hindujabank.com/) in 1994 and this is the only Swiss bank which is owned by Indians. We can easily figure it out that all unauthorized money could be belongs to some of the leading politicians, top industrialists, celebrities, lobbyists and underworld mafia. Recently Swiss government has liberated their banking policies due to international demands and last year UBS bank revealed 4450 secret accounts details to US Government. Still the Indian government has not initiated the process to get the Indian Individuals accounts’ details though India is the member of Financial Action Task Force (FATA) which combats on money laundering and terrorist financing. Being a FATA member, Indian can get the real-time information on money laundering from member countries and pressurize the other countries on stashed Indian money by diplomatic approach. One important thing is that all the account holders’ information (Names and whereabouts) may not be genuine because they are not fools to hold such a huge amount on their real names which can be traced back to them. The government should probe into this unaccounted money and all deposits which are not claimed by any individual must be nationalized. More information on the same, please read Mr.LK Advani’s blog: blog.lkadvani.in
keep attention on this righteous cause and share your innovative ideas: Yashwanthx@yahoo.com
Friday, August 06, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
FDI in Retail industry- Farmers' perspective
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion DIPP http://www.dipp.nic.in/ has come up with a discussion paper www.dipp.nic.in/DiscussionPapers/DP_FDI_Multi-BrandRetailTrading_06July2010.pdf which invites public opinion by July 31, 2010 and the subject is to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. This paper is favoring Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retailing (Multiple brands in multiple products) sector which would allow the global giants to directly set up outlets in the country. Multi-brand global retail giants like the Wal-Mart, Shop rite, Metro, Carrefour and Tesco may soon enter into Indian retail markets if this bill gets approved. However, the expansion of supermarkets in developing countries is expected.
In India, growing middle class with changing consumption patterns are ideal for supermarkets to prosper. The total size of Indian retail sector, including organized and unorganized sector is $300 billion, where currently the organized sector accounts for 4% only but near future the supermarket retail chains are going to play major role in agro-food sector in India. The supermarkets concerns are stable, year around supply with high quality and competitive prices. Supplying to large chain supermarkets gives both potential and large opportunities to our Indian farmers. The biggest challenge is to follow the strict guidelines by the retail groups in terms of quality and safety standards since most of our farmers usually deliver their goods to open markets or to local wholesalers. Mainly Indian farmers are marginal and small who are having average farm size of 3.3 acres, lack of infrastructure and poor post harvesting practices.
In India 40% of harvests are lost in storage and transportation. We are the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables but our country is loosing Rs.1 trillion per annum, (estimated 50% of produce) going waste due to lake of storage facilities and difficult to link to far-away markets. We need large investments to improve our agriculture infrastructure in terms of seed supply, agrichemicals, processing, machinery, storage facilities, rural transportation and supply chain linkage to support the current retail trends. This could be achieved through private investors preferably by organized retailers whether domestic or Global. If it truly improves the farmer’s income, agriculture growth and food security, there is no need to be concerned about FDI or domestic.
My recommendation on FDI- Retail in farmers’ perspective.
1. First and foremost... the multinational retailer’s trade practices should not dampen the spirit of Indian farmers and consumers. FDI – Retail should be a process of integrating Indian economy to the global economy as well as farmers can be integrated into the world class retail market not on the mercy or control of global retail giants.
2. Retailing sector needs to be and Industry status because retail sector is the second largest employer after agriculture and generating 10 percent of GDP and 8 percent of the employment. Lot of rural youth and mediocre educational qualified people are employed in this sector.
3. Governments make sure that farmers have to receive the remunerative price should be between 60% - 70% (based on product category) of the price paid by the consumer.
4. International retailers should be mandated to work with farmers to improve yields by enabling them provide quality inputs, best farm technologies, timely credit and remunerative prices for their produces.
5. Government needs to identify the trends and ways of supporting farmers to meet the needs of modern supply chains and marketing systems to enable with the supermarket sector.
6. Government should ensure that the agro produces should be procured from the local producers and local people must be given priority in employment opportunities in processing and supply chain.
I submited this information to Indian Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and if you have any ideas please share with me . YashwanthX@yahoo.com
Friday, June 11, 2010
They robbed our nation not only Kohinoor
The precious stone which was stolen by British is “Kohinoor” in Persian meaning - “Mountain of Light”. It is a 105 carat diamond that was once the largest known diamond in the world. It was found more than 500 years ago in Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh. It has traded hands by various Hindu, Mughal, Sikh, British rulers and finally in the crown of British Queen. As everybody knows that the Kohinoor diamond was taken away from India by the British rulers. Recently our Indian government (Archaeological Survey of India) requested the United Kingdom to return back. The UK government has denied as per their British Museum Act 1963. I have question … Is there any article of law which prevents to recover the “stolen” property?
Some people are chanting and praising the deeds of the British rule that contributed to India for modernization in the form of railways and transportation canals. I don’t believe in that. They build the internal infrastructure to make feasible for their trade and mercantile. They initiated the administration system for the revenue generation not for public governance. They introduced the Macaulay’s education system which was forcibly imposing English language in education since they wish to communicate in English not to encourage the Indians to get knowledge and wisdom. Finally they did nothing except robbing. There is no comparison of British rulers with our native Indian emperors like Akber, Aurungzib, ShahJehan, Sivaji and Ashoka. They were most progressive, magnificent and superior emperors in the world and their reign everything flourished. But the British came in to the power by taking the advantage of disputes among the Indian kings.
We lost so many things…. more than this precious diamond. The British rulers opened the fire in Jallianwala bagh on innocent, peaceful, unarmed 2000 Indian patriots who were martyred in non –violent struggle against British tyranny. We should demand the United Kingdom for the official confession against the Jallianwala bagh massacre on 13th April, 1919. Who will compensate that monstrous genocide? British rulers ignored the Indian industrial development when the western countries are growing with an abundant of industrial revolution. They were not setup the plants and simply trading the consumer goods by imports. How can we reimburse the dearth of the industrial growth gap? The British delivered us very bad feudal rules from Europe and they haven’t formed a good political structure for India. While leaving the country, they just transferred the power to an Indian elite family and their buddies who remain loyal to the British. The same family has been enjoying power from past decades and generation after generation.
The British rule on India has done more harm than good to India. They enslaved and robbed our human resources, natural resources and they ruined our culture and heritage. At this point of time, Archaeological Survey efforts have gone as a futile exercise. The Archaeological Survey of India is planning to launch an international campaign to get the Kohinoor back. Let us support that. I have curiosity….. Is she (Queen of British) doesn’t feel embarrassment to fully clad with crown which is embedded with Stolen Diamond?
Please do comment : YashwanthX@Yahoo.com
Friday, May 07, 2010
BELOW STARVATION LINE
India is ranked 65th among 84 vulnerable countries in the Global Hunger Index by the International Food Policy Research institute. Recently, three months ago I read about famine conditions are existed in Eastern part of India and starvation deaths also have reported. We have highest rate (46%) of malnutrition and underweight children, high maternal mortality and high malnutrition women among the world. The Government of India initiated to implement National Food Security Act (NFSA). The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) was set up by the central government to outline the framework of this act. The National Food Security Act was formulated that each BPL (Below Poverty Line) family would get 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs.3 a kg and the budget estimate will be Rs. 43,000 crores. But the Supreme Court Commissioner on Food Security ordered that the government should provide 35 kg of food grain to the poor families. UPA Chairperson Ms. Sonia Gandhi also suggested the government to work out on 35 kgs of food grain for BPL families.
Now the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) are exercising the Mechanism with planning commission to redefine THE POOR FAMILIES (BPL).Planning commission is taking the consideration of various estimates. Suresh Tendulkar committee 2009 (National Development Council), which projects the poverty at total 37.2 percent and the estimate of 41.8% rural and 27.5% urban families (32 crores people and 8.7 crores people).The Tendulkar committee has set the criteria based on per capita consumption expenditure for defining the poor in rural India at Rs. 446 per month and for the poor in urban India at Rs 580 per month. The Rural Development Ministry's committee chaired by N C Saxena has estimated that 50% of Indian families are below poverty line. Arjun Sengupta committee by National Commission on Enterprise in Unorganized Sector claimed that 77 per cent of the population (or 836 million people) were able to spend not more than Rs 20 a day (or roughly 48 US cents).
Our Indian media is prompting that Bull is rising in share market and sensex is crossing the screen limits…then why 50% Indian families are below poverty line. The Forbes magazine has listed the 52 richest Indian people among the world. Sure we are proud of that…then what about the embarrassment situation of 77% Indian population who are unable to meet the expenditure of Rs.20 per day. In India, two powerful brothers who have given the gifts (Corporate Jet – 300 crores, Super Luxury Yacht-400crores) to their lovely wives on their birthdays. That’s great …but in other outlook of India, we are pity and heart wrenching about the poor Indian farmers who sold their wives to pay their farm loans [click CNN.com]. In USA a cow meet the expenditure of $2 per day, our committees are stating that more than 50% of our citizens are unable to spend not even .45 cents per day.... I can't compare my beloved citizens. Conclusion is that we are not in below poverty line we are in BELOW STARVATION LINE .anyhow, Food security is the basic welfare of the state and we wish no one should die with hunger.
Please do comment and share with your friends and colleagues. YashwanthX@Yahoo.com
నా దేశ దారిద్ర్యం ఇలా ఉంటే, ఏమని పొగడను ఆ తల్లి భూమి భారతిని, అందుకే కొంచెం కలతతో, కొంచెం దిగులుతో అడుగుతున్నాను.. ఓ! భారతమాత నీ నిండు గౌరవము నీవే నిలుపుకో , ఓ! భారత విధాత.... నా దేశానికీ కొంత భాగ్యాన్ని ప్రసాదించు.
Now the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) are exercising the Mechanism with planning commission to redefine THE POOR FAMILIES (BPL).Planning commission is taking the consideration of various estimates. Suresh Tendulkar committee 2009 (National Development Council), which projects the poverty at total 37.2 percent and the estimate of 41.8% rural and 27.5% urban families (32 crores people and 8.7 crores people).The Tendulkar committee has set the criteria based on per capita consumption expenditure for defining the poor in rural India at Rs. 446 per month and for the poor in urban India at Rs 580 per month. The Rural Development Ministry's committee chaired by N C Saxena has estimated that 50% of Indian families are below poverty line. Arjun Sengupta committee by National Commission on Enterprise in Unorganized Sector claimed that 77 per cent of the population (or 836 million people) were able to spend not more than Rs 20 a day (or roughly 48 US cents).
Our Indian media is prompting that Bull is rising in share market and sensex is crossing the screen limits…then why 50% Indian families are below poverty line. The Forbes magazine has listed the 52 richest Indian people among the world. Sure we are proud of that…then what about the embarrassment situation of 77% Indian population who are unable to meet the expenditure of Rs.20 per day. In India, two powerful brothers who have given the gifts (Corporate Jet – 300 crores, Super Luxury Yacht-400crores) to their lovely wives on their birthdays. That’s great …but in other outlook of India, we are pity and heart wrenching about the poor Indian farmers who sold their wives to pay their farm loans [click CNN.com]. In USA a cow meet the expenditure of $2 per day, our committees are stating that more than 50% of our citizens are unable to spend not even .45 cents per day.... I can't compare my beloved citizens. Conclusion is that we are not in below poverty line we are in BELOW STARVATION LINE .anyhow, Food security is the basic welfare of the state and we wish no one should die with hunger.
Please do comment and share with your friends and colleagues. YashwanthX@Yahoo.com
నా దేశ దారిద్ర్యం ఇలా ఉంటే, ఏమని పొగడను ఆ తల్లి భూమి భారతిని, అందుకే కొంచెం కలతతో, కొంచెం దిగులుతో అడుగుతున్నాను.. ఓ! భారతమాత నీ నిండు గౌరవము నీవే నిలుపుకో , ఓ! భారత విధాత.... నా దేశానికీ కొంత భాగ్యాన్ని ప్రసాదించు.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Agriculture Outsourcing
India is eminent for Software Outsourcing, China is well-known for computer hardware and domestic products outsourcing. Mexico is the global leader in auto parts outsourcing. USA is a giant for high-tech goods like Aircrafts, Automobiles, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals. Japan is famous for Electronics. So... what about outsourcing of agriculture? Lot of countries are importing food and agro products from other countries to satisfy their population needs. Governments and corporations are buying farmland in other countries to grow their own food to protect their food security. We can call it as outsourcing of agriculture. These countries are outsourcing the farming for various reasons: most of them are lack of natural resources and volatile climate conditions.
Take the instance of Middle East, they don’t have sufficient water resources to grow crops and taking care of the growing population. Saudi Arabia gives up the growing crops in the desert with exorbitant spending. They invested in Indonesia for 500,000 hectares of farmland and other animal production investments in abroad. United Arab Emirates has leased 375,000 hectares in northern Sudan, 325,000 hectares in Pakistan and 5,000 in Ethiopia. Kuwait arranged $546 million loan to Cambodia in exchange for a lease to a large area of rice lands. Qatar leased 100,000 hectares in the Philippines, Vietnam and Kenya. Some of the Asian countries also pursuing same deals, South Korean companies have arranged to lease 690,000 hectares in Sudan and Madagascar. China invested $800 millions in Mozambique agriculture. China bought a lot of farm land in Senegal for Sesame production. More than 300 Indian companies have invested around $4.0 billions in Ethiopia for Floriculture and agriculture. Lot of outsourcing investments in agriculture projects were made in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia.
Some of the Latin American countries are encouraging agriculture investments. Mercosul countries (Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil) are attracting the foreign investors with their land & investment policies and their abundance of natural resources. Many of US and Canadian Agribusiness corporations (Bunge Foods, Cargill, Unilever, and ADM) are cultivating and processing the food grains, soya, sugar and ethanol in South America.
We can assume that all these efforts are feeding the people, but one thing we can notice that the entire agriculture trade is going to the hands of the wealthy nations, retails giants and big food processing organizations. The developing and poor countries are unable to feed their people if the surplus food which will be produced will be shipped to abroad. So the investing countries or corporations shall take the consideration of local population food needs. Leasing and selling the land to foreign investors should be transparent and accountable, that revenue shall be used for the benefit of the local population. Please send your comments: YashwanthX@yahoo.com
Take the instance of Middle East, they don’t have sufficient water resources to grow crops and taking care of the growing population. Saudi Arabia gives up the growing crops in the desert with exorbitant spending. They invested in Indonesia for 500,000 hectares of farmland and other animal production investments in abroad. United Arab Emirates has leased 375,000 hectares in northern Sudan, 325,000 hectares in Pakistan and 5,000 in Ethiopia. Kuwait arranged $546 million loan to Cambodia in exchange for a lease to a large area of rice lands. Qatar leased 100,000 hectares in the Philippines, Vietnam and Kenya. Some of the Asian countries also pursuing same deals, South Korean companies have arranged to lease 690,000 hectares in Sudan and Madagascar. China invested $800 millions in Mozambique agriculture. China bought a lot of farm land in Senegal for Sesame production. More than 300 Indian companies have invested around $4.0 billions in Ethiopia for Floriculture and agriculture. Lot of outsourcing investments in agriculture projects were made in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia.
Some of the Latin American countries are encouraging agriculture investments. Mercosul countries (Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil) are attracting the foreign investors with their land & investment policies and their abundance of natural resources. Many of US and Canadian Agribusiness corporations (Bunge Foods, Cargill, Unilever, and ADM) are cultivating and processing the food grains, soya, sugar and ethanol in South America.
We can assume that all these efforts are feeding the people, but one thing we can notice that the entire agriculture trade is going to the hands of the wealthy nations, retails giants and big food processing organizations. The developing and poor countries are unable to feed their people if the surplus food which will be produced will be shipped to abroad. So the investing countries or corporations shall take the consideration of local population food needs. Leasing and selling the land to foreign investors should be transparent and accountable, that revenue shall be used for the benefit of the local population. Please send your comments: YashwanthX@yahoo.com
Friday, March 26, 2010
Ultra Modern Zamindars
We fought more than 200 years with British for freedom of our land. Indo-Pakistani war and Indo china war were happened for Jammu Kashmir land dispute and Himalayan land dispute. So many agitations in India for separate land i.e. Telangana, Vidarbha, Mithilanchal, Saurashtra, Harit Pradesh, and Bundelkhand. Funny thing is… SATYAM (No related to land except software), such a big tech company collapsed due to greedy investments on land through MAYTAS and others. Matter of fact everybody loves land…. land is life, basis of all wealth and a factor of production. Now everybody’s passion is land because…the land appreciation value is very high comparatively with other savings like gold, fixed deposits, bonds, shares and securities. The land value is cherished more than 5 times in past ten years.
Before independence most of land was acquired by few land lords (Zamindars). Since independence, there has been voluntary and government initiated land reforms for distribution of land among the landless farmers. Jawaharlal Nehru initiated ceiling on lands to abolish landlord system. Land to tiller is the slogan of peasant’s movement in 1970s became very intense. Now the history repeating… present economic reforms are creating Ultra Modern Zamindars in the form of Industrialists. The land ceiling systems is applicable to agriculture lands only not for industrial lands, those limitations are advantages to the industrialist to acquire the land as much as they want. The governments are allotting thousands of hectares of land to big industrialists in the name of SEZ, IT industries, Airports, Seaports and other Projects. Reliance, Tata and Adani Group have got 4,830 hectare land from Gujarat state. GMR group (Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao) got 5500 acres of land for free to construct the Shamshabad Airport, but the Government share is very nominal. The Government of Andhra Pradesh allotted the land to Vanpic (Vaderevu – Nizampatnam Port& Industrial Corridor- Nimmagadda Prasad) around 10,000 acres. I can mention so many like 1300 acres to Jindal group (Savitri Jindal) near Visakhapatnam, 1000 acres to Vedanta Resources (Anil Agarwal) in Orissa and Tata and Essar 6500 acres of land in Chattisgarh. I have a right to believe that Chief Ministers are functioning as Property dealers
In fact farmers need the land, because that is their livelihood, they care for the land. The recent economic reforms are intend to forcible acquisition of agriculture land in thousands of acres that belonged to small farmers in the name of industries, mining, dams and others projects. The economic liberalization programs are completely neglected the land distribution among the landless farmers. Indian farmers are very small and peasants who are holding an average farm land of lessthan 1 hectare (2.5 acres) and some of them do farming by taking lands on rent basis (Tenant farmers). Present economic reforms are promoting the privatization of natural resources, it cause to moving the farmers out of agriculture and some times may be lead to insurgency (Maoists in Chattisgarh, west Bengal, Orissa, and Jharkhand). We need mutually beneficial reforms which can restore the pride of agriculture and ensure the industrial growth. We must protect our 600 million farmers to make sure our food security and food self sufficiency which is our country’s priority
Before independence most of land was acquired by few land lords (Zamindars). Since independence, there has been voluntary and government initiated land reforms for distribution of land among the landless farmers. Jawaharlal Nehru initiated ceiling on lands to abolish landlord system. Land to tiller is the slogan of peasant’s movement in 1970s became very intense. Now the history repeating… present economic reforms are creating Ultra Modern Zamindars in the form of Industrialists. The land ceiling systems is applicable to agriculture lands only not for industrial lands, those limitations are advantages to the industrialist to acquire the land as much as they want. The governments are allotting thousands of hectares of land to big industrialists in the name of SEZ, IT industries, Airports, Seaports and other Projects. Reliance, Tata and Adani Group have got 4,830 hectare land from Gujarat state. GMR group (Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao) got 5500 acres of land for free to construct the Shamshabad Airport, but the Government share is very nominal. The Government of Andhra Pradesh allotted the land to Vanpic (Vaderevu – Nizampatnam Port& Industrial Corridor- Nimmagadda Prasad) around 10,000 acres. I can mention so many like 1300 acres to Jindal group (Savitri Jindal) near Visakhapatnam, 1000 acres to Vedanta Resources (Anil Agarwal) in Orissa and Tata and Essar 6500 acres of land in Chattisgarh. I have a right to believe that Chief Ministers are functioning as Property dealers
In fact farmers need the land, because that is their livelihood, they care for the land. The recent economic reforms are intend to forcible acquisition of agriculture land in thousands of acres that belonged to small farmers in the name of industries, mining, dams and others projects. The economic liberalization programs are completely neglected the land distribution among the landless farmers. Indian farmers are very small and peasants who are holding an average farm land of lessthan 1 hectare (2.5 acres) and some of them do farming by taking lands on rent basis (Tenant farmers). Present economic reforms are promoting the privatization of natural resources, it cause to moving the farmers out of agriculture and some times may be lead to insurgency (Maoists in Chattisgarh, west Bengal, Orissa, and Jharkhand). We need mutually beneficial reforms which can restore the pride of agriculture and ensure the industrial growth. We must protect our 600 million farmers to make sure our food security and food self sufficiency which is our country’s priority
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Same game, Same rules, Surrogate players
I am not opposing women reservation bill, but I am questioning that the number of women increase in legislation houses is lead to empower the ordinary women? As you know, presently our India is lead by women only .They are... President: Pratibha Patil, UPA chairperson: Sonia Gandhi, Parliament Speaker: Meira Kumar, Lok sabha opposition leader: Sushma Swaraj, Country's Capital -Delhi Chief Minister: Sheila Dikshit. Why these leaders are failed to identify the solutions for Manipuri Lady -Irom Chanu Sharmila’s hunger strike which has been from past 10 years? Why can’t these leaders try to stop her ritual of release and re arrest? Shall we believe the downtrodden or middle class women group will get the chance in 33% of the leglisture houses? I don’t think so…. This could be for only elite class or existing member’s siblings like… wife, Daughter, Daughter in-law… so on. I can say this as“Same game, Same rules, surrogate players”. We have been implementing 1/3rd reservation of total seats for women in Panchayaths and local bodies from 1993, as everybody knows that some of the women are proxies to their male relatives.
We need to worry about the poor, middle class and illiterate women who are overworked in the farm fields and complete all domestic work. They are still powerless, mistreated, hapless and helpless. The weaker section and middle class women need to improve their economical, political, spiritual and social strengths which gives them confidence. We need create such a policies and reforms which are Right to participation, Right to decision making, Right to equal access for women. Let us dream the society for a woman which has No abuse, No dowry, No rapes and No Gender inequality. Indian distressed women shall be blessed.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Square shaped watermelon
But the limitation is cost, the square shaped melon cost is triple than the normal one. The groceries retailers are marketing them as Gift fruits.
You tube video
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Great Inventions for water
QDRUM:Hans Hendrikse, a South African architect invented the QDRUM, the drum made of low-density linear polyethylene to enable people transport of water in a safer, easier way. The Drum can be rolled rather than carrying water on their heads. This is an amazing invention to prevent drudgery and wasting of valuable working hours. It’s really helpful, if some NGO’s or any charitable organizations donate to our drought ridden states in India.See the QDRUM Video on You tube
Two-thirds of small farmers in India don’t have access to irrigation and depend on unpredictable monsoons. Their reliable source for water are only tube wells and bore wells. Tube wells and bore wells need electric motors or Diesel engines to fetch the water to surface. Irregular power cuts in electricity and diesel price hikes were adversely affected on farming crops.
International Development Enterprises (IDE) :developed the Treadle Pump, is an irrigation device by stepping up and down on treadles which drive pistons, creating cylinder suction that draws groundwater to the surface. In most of Indian states, the farmers are using this low-cost and easy to operate devise to boost their yields and their incomes.See the Treadle Pump Video on You tube
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Blazing Brinjal
Brinjal is very common vegetable fruit in India.India is the second largest Brinjal producing country in the world. Now the Brinjal is blazing topic in India caused by Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) Brinjal which was developed by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech. (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company & Monsanto, USA). Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of India accepted for commercial use of BT Brinjal- the country’s first genetically modified (GM) food crop. The GEAC was set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to regulate research, testing and commercial release of GM crops, foods and organisms. However, the government could not taken decision without more consultation with stakeholders.
In the meantime lot of public groups, Environmental activists, scientists, and farmers are protesting against BT Brinjal. The Environment and Forest minister Jairam Ramesh is touring seven cities—Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Nagpur and Chandigarh—and holding public discussions with farmers, activists and scientists on their comfort with Bt brinjal.
The protesters are claiming that: BT brinjal is a threat to plant biodiversity, flaws in the data on the gene inserted into the brinjal, no long-term toxicity and cancer-safety tests were done which leads to kidney and liver damage. Farm workers are suffering with allergies including rashes, itches, and irritations while working in GM crop fields. Cattle health may get harm and negative impact on its milk production.
Supporters are impressing that: BT Brinjal will help to tackle the pest in an environment-friendly manner and increase yields and farm income. BT Brinjal has been tested in full compliance with the guidelines and directives of the regulatory authorities to ensure its safety. It has the same nutritional value and is compositionally identical to non BT brinjal, except for the additional BT protein which is specific in its action against the Pest.
The GM companies should focus their R&Ds on the crops like...
In the meantime lot of public groups, Environmental activists, scientists, and farmers are protesting against BT Brinjal. The Environment and Forest minister Jairam Ramesh is touring seven cities—Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Nagpur and Chandigarh—and holding public discussions with farmers, activists and scientists on their comfort with Bt brinjal.
The protesters are claiming that: BT brinjal is a threat to plant biodiversity, flaws in the data on the gene inserted into the brinjal, no long-term toxicity and cancer-safety tests were done which leads to kidney and liver damage. Farm workers are suffering with allergies including rashes, itches, and irritations while working in GM crop fields. Cattle health may get harm and negative impact on its milk production.
Supporters are impressing that: BT Brinjal will help to tackle the pest in an environment-friendly manner and increase yields and farm income. BT Brinjal has been tested in full compliance with the guidelines and directives of the regulatory authorities to ensure its safety. It has the same nutritional value and is compositionally identical to non BT brinjal, except for the additional BT protein which is specific in its action against the Pest.
I am not against to the technology but we already have more than 200 varieties of brinjal, there is no dearth of brinjal in India. Indians have been eating so many conventional varities of Brinjal for centuries which contains rich health & nutrition values. We can develop new varities by hybridization and natural selection, what is the need of introduction of BT Brinjal. They are mentioning BT Brinjal contains same nutrional values as non BT, so there is no need of Sense of Urgency on BT Brinjal at this point of time.
The GM companies should focus their R&Ds on the crops like...
Ethanol based Transgenic Sugarcane and sugar beet crops have to be developed for support Biofules instead of fossil fuels. Genetically Engineered Tobacco plants are required for medical use. Modified Subabul, Bamboo plants are required more tonnage for paper production.
Please share your ideas on GM crops: farmersindia Email
Please share your ideas on GM crops: farmersindia Email
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Are farmers not eligible for Padma awards?
Yes, 2010 Padma awards committee ignored the farmers. The committee considered the citizens from only Art, Literature, Education, Sports, Medicine, Science and Engineering, Trade and Industry…Click for 2010 awards with discipline They did not recognize the farming & rural community related fields though farming community comprises up to 70 % of Indian population living in rural. I am not under estimating the dignitaries who are nominated, but requesting to update the selection criteria by including agriculture and rural related disciplines also. Film actors, dancers, cricketers, businessmen and others are important but let us give importance to farmers also.
If the committee really want support the farmers, they can consider the scientist from agriculture universities,Journalists in rural and agriculture disciplines,rural business entrepreneurs, rural innovators, Model farmers, individuals who are working for farmers’ development and so on. These distinguished awards encourage them and influence others to strive for excellence. How ever... my beloved humble Indian farmers have abundance of self esteem, they won’t plead and lobby for awards.
General Info: Republic day has been the occasion for India to honor its citizens who contributed for nation. Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954.The award is given in three categories, namely, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.Padma Shri is awarded for ‘distinguished service’Padma Bhushan for ‘distinguished service of a high order’; and Padma Vibhushan for ‘exceptional and distinguished service’. The Awards Committee submits the recommendations to the Prime Minister and the President for their approval.
If the committee really want support the farmers, they can consider the scientist from agriculture universities,Journalists in rural and agriculture disciplines,rural business entrepreneurs, rural innovators, Model farmers, individuals who are working for farmers’ development and so on. These distinguished awards encourage them and influence others to strive for excellence. How ever... my beloved humble Indian farmers have abundance of self esteem, they won’t plead and lobby for awards.
General Info: Republic day has been the occasion for India to honor its citizens who contributed for nation. Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954.The award is given in three categories, namely, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.Padma Shri is awarded for ‘distinguished service’Padma Bhushan for ‘distinguished service of a high order’; and Padma Vibhushan for ‘exceptional and distinguished service’. The Awards Committee submits the recommendations to the Prime Minister and the President for their approval.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Urban-Rural Disparities
India has 640,000 villages approximately and 70% of the population lives in villages. According our recent census, per capita consumption expenditure in rural is RS.14.50 per day and urban Rs.21.60 per day. India poverty headcount ratio is 37.2 per cent of the population — with the rural area poverty at 41.8 per cent and urban area poverty at 25.7 per cent. Three-quarters of urban households living in well constructed houses, compared to only about a quarter in rural areas. Less than One-quarter of the rural population has access to tap water while the corresponding proportion in cities is about three-fourth. 80 percent of rural population doesn’t have sanitary & hygiene facilities where as 30 percent urban people don’t have such. The rural dwellers have to travel miles together for primary care physician and think how difficult to get emergency care and maternity troubles. I can explain a lot like electricity, telephone connections, transportation, less investment in rural areas, banking and credit facilities… and so on. Not only opportunities, rural areas are losing their manpower which is migrating to urban areas as labor due to heavy investments in urban and metros.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005
is helping the distressed poor lives in rural areas. According to this scheme the government will give 100 days wage employment in rural areas by carry out village development works. We need a common rural development policy irrespective of states which needs to improve the villages and the achieve the Mahatma’s SAMPURNA GRAMA SWARAJ.
Please send your suggestions to: farmersindia
Friday, January 08, 2010
Genetically Modified Crops
In the controversy of BT Brinjal in India, I would like to share my opinion about GM Crops:
What is GM?
GM techniques are the direct manipulation of the genetic makeup of organisms for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. Combining genes from different organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology and the resulting organism is said to be "Genetically Modified," "Genetically engineered," or "Transgenic."
Importance of GM:
Today‘s world population is 6.8 billions and by 2050 it’s going to be 9.5 billions upward. In 40 years the population will be increased by 40%, our natural resources are shrinking and many regions of the world will be lack of food and nutritional security. The answer for the challenges is to increase the cultivation with more yields and nutritional values. Bio-technology brought revolutionary changes in crop production and management techniques by reduce the dependency on conventional insecticides, herbicides.GM Corps improve the quality of nutritional contents and of food products, bring higher net economic returns to the farmers and reduce the risk of environment pollution.
A number of developed and developing countries including USA, Argentina, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Spain, France, South Africa and China are growing genetically modified crops. The Indian first Transgenic crop BT cotton made rapid strides to Bio technology crops in India. Lot of farmers adopted the BT cotton, cultivated more than 700,000 acres and got a lot of gain in terms yields and cost wise. GM Maize illustrated great results in South Africa, and American Continent. Most of the scientific organizations like UK academies of sciences, US National academy of sciences, GRAS- FDA, International Food Policy research Institute- Asia, WHO and all are concluded thatGM Crops can be used to produce foods. The global transgenic crops market is going to be $25 billion by 2010.
Achieving Food and Nutritional security is not easy task, we need to try every option either GM or Conventional. The food grains which are cultivated today are not absolutely wholly natural, some of them are altered by selective breeding or chemicals or Viruses. Definitely, we need to depend on these modern technologies to get bumper yields, disease resistant and drought resistant crops for growing food need. The government and the progressive thinkers should focus on public understanding on AG-Bio technology.
We are against to hunger and poverty, not to the technology.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Climate Change... it’s in our hand
The Global Language Monitor has announced the Top Word of the Decade is ‘Global Warming’ and ‘Climate Change’ was the top phrase. Of course both are caused by greenhouse gases (Water Vapor, carbon, Methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.) major caused by Carbon dioxide and Methane. The greenhouse gases emission is increasing the earth’s temperature. The consequences are raise in sea levels, more rainfall, extreme weather conditions, melting glaciers, and uneven seasons.
Affect to Indian agriculture:
Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. The impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening Indian food security. Higher temperatures are eventually reducing yields of crops and encourage the weed and pest. Changes in precipitation patterns may increase of short-run crop failures and long-run production declines. Climate change will have varying effects irrigated yields for all crops like Rice, wheat, and soybeans which will cause food shortages and dramatic price increases. Increase in temperatures need more fertilizers which cause to higher emissions.Climate change is likely to aggravate the heat stress in dairy animals, adversely affecting their productive and reproductive performance. A preliminary estimate indicates that global warming is likely to lead to a loss of 1.6 million tones in milk production in India by 2020.Indian council for agriculture research (ICAR) studies on the effects of climate change found that a temperature increase of one degree Celsius would mean 3 to 7 per cent fall in wheat, soybean, mustard, groundnut and potato crops.
Climate change is reality and it’s in our hand. We need to take the necessary steps and adopt new technologies. Government has to teach the farmers by switching to crop varieties that could withstand heat, because climate change could improve the chickpea, maize, sorghum and millet crops in the West Coast and the potato and mustard crops in northwest India. Investment in agriculture research is needed to develop heat- resistant crop strains. We need to reduce carbon emissions sharply soon and encourage Bio fuels rather than fossil fuels.
For more details on UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen COP 15:United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Monday, November 16, 2009
Systematic exploitation of tribals
Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh had announced that the empowerment of tribal is essential for equitable growth of the country. He agreed that “The systematic exploitation and social and economic abuse of our tribal communities can no longer be tolerated”. But actually Man Mohan sing government is trying to set up more projects which leads to destroying the natural resources and exploiting the tribal.
TATA and ESSAR are plans to invest Rs.20, 000 crores in a steel plants in Chhattisgarh in 6,500 acres of land, eventually ten villages and 350,000 tribal have to be evacuated and use a large quantity of water from the river Sabari and will pollute the Indravati.Tribal people make up only 9 per cent of the country’s population, but more than 40 per cent of the land used to build development projects has been theirs, according to government estimates.Most tribal don’t want to sell their ancestral land they feel it’s a crime in tribal culture, the State government is forcibly acquiring the land which was not totally voluntary. Some of the tribal are not satisfied with the compensation packages like Land for Land package, Land exchange for Money and Job offer for family.
Facts:
* Government is telling these projects are necessary for attracting investors and GDP growth.
* Tribals are demanding their first right on forest, forest resources and against to “Illegal diversion” of forest land for corporate projects.
* Iron Companies are in upset that all Iron ore bearing blocks in our country are covered with forests. The environment authorities will not give permission so easily to fell trees to clear the land for mining.
A short film on Dongria Kondh tribe is to live in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa state, they are suffering due to a bauxite refinery, built and operated by a British mining company Vedanta Resources.
TATA and ESSAR are plans to invest Rs.20, 000 crores in a steel plants in Chhattisgarh in 6,500 acres of land, eventually ten villages and 350,000 tribal have to be evacuated and use a large quantity of water from the river Sabari and will pollute the Indravati.Tribal people make up only 9 per cent of the country’s population, but more than 40 per cent of the land used to build development projects has been theirs, according to government estimates.Most tribal don’t want to sell their ancestral land they feel it’s a crime in tribal culture, the State government is forcibly acquiring the land which was not totally voluntary. Some of the tribal are not satisfied with the compensation packages like Land for Land package, Land exchange for Money and Job offer for family.
Facts:
* Government is telling these projects are necessary for attracting investors and GDP growth.
* Tribals are demanding their first right on forest, forest resources and against to “Illegal diversion” of forest land for corporate projects.
* Iron Companies are in upset that all Iron ore bearing blocks in our country are covered with forests. The environment authorities will not give permission so easily to fell trees to clear the land for mining.
A short film on Dongria Kondh tribe is to live in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa state, they are suffering due to a bauxite refinery, built and operated by a British mining company Vedanta Resources.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
village for Sale
In India lot of villages are being sold by the governments for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) claiming that’s for people well being and development. Government is acquiring the villages forcefully or villagers’ own accord by announcing attractive (in papers) rehabilitation packages. Of course... the compensation package is not adequate and not up the market rates.Sometimes these lands are sold and resold for higher prices changing hands to real-estate people.
My fear and emotion is that India’s food security could be weakened by commercialization of agriculture land and lot of villagers are going to loose their livelihood. Why don’t we dare to compare with China, how the agriculture and Industrialization can flourish evenly. China produce food grains almost double than India with less cultivate land and industrial sector also producing more than India. We must protect our agriculture, agriculture based occupations and villages. Humans cannot survive without food and nature.
My fear and emotion is that India’s food security could be weakened by commercialization of agriculture land and lot of villagers are going to loose their livelihood. Why don’t we dare to compare with China, how the agriculture and Industrialization can flourish evenly. China produce food grains almost double than India with less cultivate land and industrial sector also producing more than India. We must protect our agriculture, agriculture based occupations and villages. Humans cannot survive without food and nature.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Father of Green Revolution- Norman Borlaug
The Father of Green revolution Norman Ernest Borlaug has died on September 12th 2009 (March 25, 1914 – September 12, 2009). Dr.Borlaugh introduced high-yield crop innovations for bumper harvests across the fields of India in 1970s that was a turning point in India’s food production pattern. Borlaug is considered the brain behind India’s Green Revolution. He began working with wheat production in Mexico at the end of World War II. He developed varieties of wheat that were resistant to disease and yielded higher crops. He took these varieties to other continents, where in certain places grain yields more than quadrupled. He has collaborated with scientists from India and Pakistan, in adapting the new wheat to new lands and in gaining acceptance for their production.
The Government of India awarded PADMA VIBHUSHAN in 2006 in Science and Engineering for his role in spreading the Green Revolution to India. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for developing disease-resistant wheat that helped developing world in fighting famine and He was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by US Congress, in 2007.In addition to those Dr. Borlaug has received extensive recognition from universities and organizations in six countries: Canada, India, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, and the United States.
“Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world” -Norman Borlaug
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Aug,15th 2009 Declared as “Drought India”
India is facing the threat of drought with 60% of rain shortfall and the poorest in 83 years. Farmers are unable to sow crops in this kharif season, India declared 177 districts are in drought among 626 districts. Monsoon rains are critical to India's farm prospects and vital for paddy, sugarcane, oilseeds and other crops. Up to 70 percent of Indians are dependent on farm incomes, and about 60 percent of India's farms depend on rains. This state of calamity will negatively impact on food prices and economy.
The government should take measures to maintain the sufficient food stocks of food grains to distribute in drought affected areas. Necessary steps should be planned for next crop season “Rabi”. We wish the drought couldn’t become famine.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Interim Budget 2009
The India Budget places an importance on agriculture since most of the Indian population is dependent on agriculture. Budget continued the highest priority of rural development.
Highlights of Indian Interim Budget 2009 in agriculture and rural development are:
*Government has set the target for the agriculture credit flow for 2009-10 at Rs 3, 25,000 crore.
*Fertilizer subsidy to go to farmers directly which will be based on nutrients.
*Interest subvention scheme for short term crop loans up to Rs.3 lakh per farmer at the interest rate of 7 per cent per annum to be continued. Additional subvention of 1 per cent to be paid from this year, as incentive to those farmers who repay short term crop loans on schedule.
*Time given to the farmers having more than two hectares of land to pay 75 per cent of their over dues under Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme extended from 30th June, 2009 to 31st December, 2009.
*Taskforce to be set up to examine the issue of debt taken by a large number of farmers in some regions of Maharashtra from private money lenders who were not covered by the loan waiver scheme .
*Additional allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP).
*Allocation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) stepped up by 30 per cent in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.
*Central assistance for storm-water drainage project increased to Rs 500 crore from Rs 200 crore provided by the interim Budget
*Allocation under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme increased by 144 per cent to Rs.39, 100 crore in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.
*New scheme Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) with an allocationof Rs.100 crore launched on pilot basis for integrated development of 1000 villages having population of scheduled castes above 50 per cent.
More Details:indiabudget.nic.in
Highlights of Indian Interim Budget 2009 in agriculture and rural development are:
*Government has set the target for the agriculture credit flow for 2009-10 at Rs 3, 25,000 crore.
*Fertilizer subsidy to go to farmers directly which will be based on nutrients.
*Interest subvention scheme for short term crop loans up to Rs.3 lakh per farmer at the interest rate of 7 per cent per annum to be continued. Additional subvention of 1 per cent to be paid from this year, as incentive to those farmers who repay short term crop loans on schedule.
*Time given to the farmers having more than two hectares of land to pay 75 per cent of their over dues under Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme extended from 30th June, 2009 to 31st December, 2009.
*Taskforce to be set up to examine the issue of debt taken by a large number of farmers in some regions of Maharashtra from private money lenders who were not covered by the loan waiver scheme .
*Additional allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP).
*Allocation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) stepped up by 30 per cent in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.
*Central assistance for storm-water drainage project increased to Rs 500 crore from Rs 200 crore provided by the interim Budget
*Allocation under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme increased by 144 per cent to Rs.39, 100 crore in B.E. 2009-10 over B.E. 2008-09.
*New scheme Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) with an allocationof Rs.100 crore launched on pilot basis for integrated development of 1000 villages having population of scheduled castes above 50 per cent.
More Details:indiabudget.nic.in
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
