Observe 5th June as ‘Save Environment-Save Agriculture Day’
The All India Kisan Sabha calls up on the peasantry and the people at large to observe 5th June 2014, the World Environment Day as ‘Save Environment-Save Agriculture Day’ against the dire environmental consequences of corporate-driven capitalist development and its impact on agriculture and industry all over the world. Environment is a matter of great concern to the All India Kisan Sabha. The peasantry and agriculture is facing a serious crisis mainly due to the neo-liberal economic policies and environmental degradation and other related problems which these very policies have accentuated. The large scale acquisition of farm land, unscientific and indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides leading to soil degradation, elimination of green growth that leads to water scarcity and desertification, illegal mining, rampant pollution of air, water and soil etc. among other factors compel farmers to quit farming. In this context, the AIKS hopes this commemoration could serve as a reminder to rededicate ourselves to the important issue of protection of environment along with the protection of livelihoods of the peasantry and the working class.
The growing risks and vulnerabilities particularly as a result of global warming and climate change like delayed monsoons, unseasonal rains, frost, hailstorms, droughts and floods are adding to the woes of the peasantry. The Government has no long-term planning and has no contingency plans in place to meet any such eventuality. The impending threat of the El Nino effect is also expected to have an adverse impact on productivity. The indiscriminate exploitation of ground water resources have also led to a precarious ground water table in most parts of India. Despite these significant portents there are no efforts to have a scientific water management policy, efforts to resuscitate the aquifers, proliferation of water harvesting and water-sheds, protecting as well as recharging existing water bodies like lakes and ponds and other environment friendly scientific strategies to cope with the problem. Instead further problems are being created by privatising water and talking of ambitious projects like river linking, tunnelling, diversion of rivers and the like which could cause irreversible damage to the environment and people’s livelihoods.
The high external input dependent intensive agriculture and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has not only made agriculture more expensive but also led to soil degradation and other related problems. It has also led to serious threat to health of both the peasantry and the consumers and also wiped out friendly insects and pollinators. The judicious use of fertilisers, supplementing it with adequate organic materials, adoption of scientific sustainable agro-ecological approaches and better agronomic practices are not being promoted. AIKS has been demanding a National Soil Amelioration and Replenishment Programme to address the issues of alkalinity, acidity, soil erosion and degradation but the Government is not moving in this direction. AIKS demands more Government spending on promotion of sustainable agronomic practices and also use of bio-fertilisers.
The predatory agribusinesses have been promoting technologies aimed at maximising their profits. There have been serious threats to biodiversity in the recent past and many crops have been removed out of the purview of the Biodiversity Act opening the gates for these Companies to gain access to different strains and also later patent the product of their research on such crops. The hasty permission for field trials of Genetically Modified Food Crops is the latest case in point.
In addition to these problems the indiscriminate exploitation of forest and mineral resources has also led to a serious threat to environment. AIKS stands opposed to illegal mining, quarrying, felling of trees and illegal constructions aimed at profiteering. We believe that there should be a Comprehensive Plan for Protection of Fragile Ecosystems and People’s Livelihoods which should evolve through the widest possible consultative process. AIKS also stands against the indiscriminate conversion of paddy lands and commons for real estate or other purposes.
The large scale loot and pollution of natural resources under corporate capitalism world over belittle the existence of both nature and human. Without protecting the nature and environment no human existence and livelihood is possible. The Indian State often tries to counter pose protection of environment against livelihood of peasantry and working class. The latest instance has been the effort to forcefully impose the anti-people recommendations of Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel- High Level Working Group Reports, popularly known as Gadgil-Kasturirangan Reports. In this context peasants and agriculture labour class shall defend agriculture by protecting the environment-soil, water and atmosphere and pressurise the Government to give up policies that harm agriculture and environment and undertake schemes for their protection.
AIKS calls upon all units to galvanise collective action with various activities like Shramdaan for water harvesting, protection of water bodies, soil amelioration and replenishment measures, tree-planting drives, awareness campaigns, seminars etc. AIKS will organise a workshop on environment and agriculture at New Delhi on 5th June.
Sd/-
Amra Ram, President
Hannan Mollah, General Secretary
