Jan. 8th 2012: 3-hr Live Programme on Farmers’ Suicides & Agrarian Distress

Farmer Suicides and Agrarian Crisis – What is the Way Out?

CALL FOR ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION on JANUARY 8, 2012

In the past few months, the plight of farmers has been a discussion point in A.P. in the media, among various political parties, in various forums. The continuing farmer suicides (95 suicides in one month were reported in 6 districts alone) and this season’s extensive crop losses (86 lakh acres) are the latest reminders of the deep crisis in agriculture. Crop holiday in more than one lakh acres during the last kharif season is another manifestation of the crisis. The unremunerative pricing policies, faulty marketing systems, inadequate support systems, unsustainable cropping systems and production practices are have been continuing for years. Though some measures have been taken to address the crisis, many of the underlying problems have not been tackled effectively. It is high time that all of us have to collectively give a hope to the farming community for a better future in farming.

In this context there is an urgent need to completely change the current paradigm of agriculture and the way support systems are built today. To build a political consensus on the way forward, Raitu Swarajya Vedika together with TV9 is organizing this round-table discussion where leaders of political parties are requested to hear the analysis on the key issues being faced by the farmers of the state, and state what concrete steps they will take to address the crisis. The need of the day is to go beyond the usual party politics and discuss real solutions to the crisis. The ultimate test is whether the farmers, especially small and marginal, make a dignified livelihood out of agriculture instead of being forced to exit from agriculture in distress.

We respectfully invite you to participate in this program on behalf of your party. The program will consist of hearing directly from some farmers in distress and an analysis of the problems and solutions by civil society experts, followed by responses from political party leaders and government representatives on what they would do to end the agrarian crisis.

We sincerely hope that the major political parties will take part in the discussion, convey their plans to the farmers of A.P., and help in finding lasting solutions to the crisis.

Invitees:

(1) Sri Botsa Satyanarayana, President APCC

(2) Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu, President, TDP

(3) Sri B.V.Raghavulu, State General Secretary, CPI(M)

(4) Sri K.Narayana, State General Secretary, CPI

(5) Sri K.Chandrasekhar Rao, President, TRS

(6) Sri G.Kishan Reddy, State President, BJP

Government representatives:

(1) Sri Damodara Raja Narasimha, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture

(2) Sri N. Raghuveera Reddy, Revenue Minister

(3) Smt. Usha Rani, Commissioner of Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh

(4) Shri D.V. Rayudu, Special Program Director, CMSA program, SERP

Civil Society representatives: Shri P.Sainath, eminent journalist, Dr. G.V.Ramanjaneyulu, agricultural scientist, Ms. K.Sajaya, activist working with farmer suicide families