Resistance against Golden Rice

Pledge of Nayakrishi Farmers

On the occasion of World Food Day  Farmers in Kushtia reject Hybrid and GMOs

On 16th of October, 2009 (1 Kartik, 1416 Bengali calender) is the World Food Day. It is also a very important day to commemorate a very important saint-philosopher of Bengal Fakir Lalon Shah's 119th death anniversary.

UBINIG organised a festival of farmers of Kushtia district with a seed exhibition of indigenous varieties and also held discussion sessions. The spectacular demonstration of 750 selected rice varieties from nearly 2,500 vrieties conserved by Nayakrishi Farmers were very educative for thousands of people coming to attend the death anniversary event of Fakir Lalon Shah. Seeds were selected for demonstration to highlight the role local varieties can play in climate change. Varieties resistance to flood, drought, salinity and degraded soil received special focus. Farmers shared their knowledge how for hundreds of years they are adopting the climatic variability with these local varieties. They have also discussed their present research findings for the consequences of climate change without the intervention of seeds from transnational corporations.

The farmers eloborately spoke about their experiences of preserving local variety of seeds, biodiversity and their efforts to develop complex ecological systems to enhance not only food production but also the ecological conditions for all life forms. Such activities go along with spiritual and cultural values that are life-affirming. Spiritual and cultural meaning of their struggle against all biocides, particuarly the socalled chemical fertilzer-pesticide based modern agriculture, hybrids and GMOs became very clear and the historical connection between the spiritual movement of Bengal's bhakti-sufi movement and the Nayakrishi Andolon has been clearly understood by all, who often miss the connection. Nayakrishi is life-affirming activity of the enlightened spirit and its technological innovation is guided by the political spiriruality that is against caste, class, patriarchy and all forms of hierarchies. Farmers pointed out the harmful impact of the pesticides in the environment and health of human, animals and birds. They spoke about the loss of fish, birds, plants and many other life forms that were found in their surroundings. A farmer Ajer Ali listed the names of 270 birds that he knew in his village but are not found any more. Similarly they named rice varieties, varieties of vegetables, pulses etc.

Over 1000 men and women farmers gathered from different parts of Kushtia and spent their day in the Nabapran Akhrabari where the Lalon followers and sadhus were already there for the commemoration. They also organised a seed festival where Nayakrishi farmers presented different rice varieties and vegetable, pulse, oil seeds.

Nayakrishi Andolon is an ecological and biodiversity based farmers movement having over 20,000 farmers practising Nayakrishi in Kushtia district. At the national level, over 300,000 farmers are practising Nayakrishi. The Nayakrishi farmers in Kushtia are organised to stop tobacco cultivation in their area and shifting to food production.

In the end, the farmers took a pledge holding candle light in their hands.

PLEDGE OF FARMERS AT NAYAKRISHI MELA, 2009

on the occasion of 119th death anniversary (Tirodhan Dibosh) of Fakir Lalon Shah

Today is first of Kartik, 1416 (16th October, 2009), the death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah. We the Nayakrishi farmers from different villages and upazilas of Kushtia district have come here at Nabapran Akhrabari, Cheoria, Kushtia and invite everybody to rejoice for life and nature. We have organised a seed festival to show the diversity of seed wealth we have which we can celebrate. Today is also the World Food Day, but we find that our givernment and the international organisations are only promoting hi-tech seeds (such as Hybrid and GM seeds) as a solution to solve food problem, instead of encouraging farmers diverse sed varieties which can provide food for human as well as feed & fodder for poultry and livestock.

We the Nayakrishi farmers take oath for:

1. We shall not use any form of pesticide for raising crops.

2. We shall maintain indigenous seeds. Farmers' house will be seed store. We shall not be dependent on market supply of seeds.

3. We the farmers - women and men must apply our own experience and knowledge for crop production.

4. We shall work for maintaining the livelihood options of farmers, fishers, weavers, artisans, potters and other professions.

5. We shall not use hybrid seed, high dose of chemical fertilizers and patricides. We reject the seeds that do not regenerate.

6. We consider genetic modification of crops is unethical and accordingly we oppose Genetically Modified organisms (GMOs).

7. We shall not be lured by the false propaganda of high yield and must not be caught in the vicious cycle of chemical agriculture.

8. Tobacco is not a food. Rather it is a destroyer of our source of food. We shall not harm humankind and environment for the greed of cash income only.

9. We must try to keep the flow of the rivers and rivulets running and resist any attempt to stop the flow by the national and international bodies.

10. We the Nayakrishi farmers shall safeguard the life and livelihood options of the people and food sovereignty, unitedly. We shall also institute farmers' court and conduct trial against those responsible for committing harm to life and livelihood of the people.

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