Delhi/Bhopal, October 10, 2010: After reaching Bhopal on the 8th day of its 71-day outreach tour, Kisan Swaraj Yatra performed “Sharad Pawar Sadbuddhi Yagna”, praying for good sense for the Union Agriculture Minister of India, so that he may immediately address the issue of agrarian crisis in the country. Hundreds of farmers and consumers from different parts of Madhya Pradesh joined members of the Kisan Swaraj Yatra at Shahjahani Park in Bhopal today for this Yagna. More...

First about the fantastic organic lunch, sitting under amla trees in the zero-budget farm of Shri Rajendra Singh Baghel in Sonkatch, next to a highway. The Yatris were touched by the ambience, the warmth, the fantastic food (the kadhi was so good that we started downing several katoris each) – we felt that the Yatra’s message is finally complete – living close to Nature and eating non-toxic food.More...

10:00 am: Public meeting of farmers and citizens at Shah Jahani Park; 12:00 pm: Sharad Pawar Sadbuddhi Yagna! 12:30 pm: Rally from Shahjahani Park to... Read More

We were welcomed with much dancing and slogan-shouting by young social work students as soon as we entered the campus of Barli Grameen Mahila Vikas Sanghatan. Many activists, social workers, senior agriculture scientists and technocrats from Indore were present in addition to more than 150 students and trainees of the host organization. Tribal girls were seen busy cooking food for us on solar-powered stoves and in solar cookers. More...

8.30 am to 11 am – visit to Shri Rajendra Singh Baghel’s natural farm. 11.30 am to 3.30 pm – Meeting with farmers’ groups in... Read More

“Badnagar citizens promise to take the message of the Kisan Swaraj Yatra to 110 villages in the coming days even as the Yatra moves on” “Sarangi village panchayat will promote ecological farming with its farmers” Bright yellows, oranges and greens – the turbans of the farmers who were attending the weekly haat (village market) in Sarangi village were standing out bright and brilliant. Women were out in great numbers too, not just purchasing things but also selling various assorted things starting from agricultural implements like sickles to vegetables and clothes. Our slogans which summed up the messages and mood of the Kisan Swaraj Yatra were greeted with vigorous nods by farmers and shrill shouts from a sizeable group of inspired kids.More...

10.30 AM: Meeting with civil society groups and activists 12:00 PM: Public meeting

We seemed to have entered that part of Madhya Pradesh where the recipe for an agricultural disaster is in the making. Meghnagar, Thandla and Petlawad areas of Jhabua district of MP. Vegetable cultivation, especially of tomatos seems to be on the high. Chemical fertilizer use is higher here than even in Punjab, going by the discussions we had with farmers throughout the day. Further, deadly chemical pesticides are being used. Bhils and Bhilalas are being lured towards intensive cultivation and borrowing on high interest from moneylenders is the norm. More...