The Hindu : National : Encourage organic farming, say tribal women

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 24, 2005

National

National

Encourage organic farming, say tribal women

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 23. Thousands of tribal women joined hands to set fire to hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides outside the Assembly here today demanding that Orissa be declared an "organic" State.

Participating in a rally organised by the Orissa Nari Samaj, a federation of 53 tribal women's organisations, the women sought the establishment of an organic farmers' bank that would provide financial and technical assistance for farmers and support them during the transition period of converting their lands from chemical to organic farming.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, the Samaj contended that the forthcoming Seed Bill would take away the rights of farmers to sell and exchange indigenous seeds. The Plant Varieties Protection and Farmers' Right Act, 2002, should be retained. Pointing out that the demand for organic foods, forest produce and herbal products was increasing at the rate of at least 20 per cent every year in the world market, the Samaj said organic farming should be encouraged in the State as it was labour- intensive and would help solve the problem of unemployment.

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