Kisan Swaraj Yatra - A massive outreach effort interacting with farmers and urban citizens about the agricultural crisis and the way out

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra has been initiated by the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA). This is a loose alliance of scores of groups across the country, drawn from more than 20 states. The network consists of farmers’ organizations, consumer groups, women’s organizations, environmental organizations, organic farmers’ cooperatives, individual scientists, doctors, health activists and others.

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra is a massive outreach effort interacting with lakhs of farmers and lakhs of urban citizens about the agricultural crisis and the way out. It is also raising a loud reverberating voice across the country demanding that the governments change their anti-farmer policies and adopt a very different pro-farmer, pro-nature approach. The Yatra welcomes everyone who broadly agrees with the ideas to join in.

The Yatra is driven by a collective realization that the prevailing agricultural model and policies have resulted in an enormous crisis of many dimensions – soils are depleted of fertility and life itself; health is deeply affected due to poisoning of water and food; farmers are in deep distress, caught in a cycle of high risk and debt; distress migration is resulting in huge exploited population in urban areas. There is a sense of urgency that we need a whole revamp of our approach to agriculture.

The Yatra is also driven by a sense of hope that many elements of a new paradigm for Indian agriculture have already been demonstrated, even on a large scale. India can and should chart a new course for building a pro-farmer, ecologically sustainable agricultural economy that will keep our rural economy thriving and the urban areas manageable.

Many of us are aware of the deep agrarian crisis in our country yet we have not seen any concrete and sincere efforts by our Government and political parties in resolving the crisis. Many Farmers' and concerned citizens' movements have been fighting for betterment of our farming community for several decades only to fall in the deaf ears of the successive ruling Governments. It is high time that our voices reach the power centers and our just demands and loud protests move them into action. With this in mind, many movements and partners have come together to give an unified voice in form of Kisan Swaraj Yatra.

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra is a nation-wide mobilization drawing fresh attention to the continuing agricultural crisis in India, and calling for a comprehensive new path for Indian agriculture – that will provide livelihood and food security for small farmers, keep our soils alive, and our food and water poison-free.

The bus-Yatra started at the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram on Oct 2nd and has covered several districts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Intense discussions and enriching interactions about the health, environmental and agricultural crisis caused by the chemical agriculture have taken place in many villages.  In Bhonyera village of Rajkot district, 20 women farmers and 10 men farmers resolved to move to organic agriculture – many of them from Bt cotton to non-Bt cotton. Many such farmers have stepped forward to adopt and follow ecological farming practices which are not only good for the environment but also towards the health of the population of the country. The Yatra will continue to cover 20 states and reach Rajghat, New Delhi on December 11th.

Take Action now:

• Write to the Indian government today and demand that they 'Protect farmers’ livelihoods and resources – Support self-reliant, ecological farming:

Click here to read the full petition and to Sign

• Organize or participate in solidarity events to be held on Oct 16th around the world. It is also World Food Day, and a Saturday - so its a very good opportunity to tie in the themes of Food, Farmers, Health and so on. Please get in touch with Rajasekhar (j.rajasekhar@gmail.com) and Jyotsna (jyotsnatejo@gmail.com) to know more details.

There are many interesting possibilities:

1. An organic or millet-based lunch event together with watching a film on food and farmers such as the Millets short film, or Food, Inc, etc. This can be followed by signing of a solidarity banner for the Kisan Swaraj Yatra which you can send to India. You can also do a collection drive to help the Yatra.
2. A visit to a local organic farm, preceded by a short exposure presentation on the Why and How of organic farming. The solidarity banner and collection drive can follow.
3. A walkathon or rally or candle-light vigil for the farmers of India - with Kisan Swaraj Yatra posters, and the solidarity banner and collection as always.
4. Encourage your friends and family to have discussions on the effects of green revolution, impacts of chemical agriculture on our health and the environment
5. Screen documentaries or films that deal with the agrarian crisis such as "Food Inc", "Gabricha Paus", "Poison on the platter" etc.

• Resources to get more information on Agricultural issues, farmers' suicides, Organic ecological farming, GM seeds etc... click here

Contact Details:
124-A/6, 1st Floor,
Katwaria Sarai,
New Delhi 110016
Phone: +91-11-65663958,
Fax: +91-11-26517814
Website: http://www.kisanswaraj.in/