Agrarian Issues

AIKS Opposes Moves to Reduce Food Grain Buffer Stocks

The following is the press statement issued by the AIKS on January 15.THE All India Kisan Sabha condemns the BJP-led NDA government’s proposal to drastically reduce the food grain buffer stocks to be maintained with the Food Corporation of India. The buffer stocks were to be raised by 60 per cent to meet the requirements of the Food Security Act. However, the BJP-led NDA government is reportedly proposing to raise it only by 50 per cent. We demand that the government desist from this retrograde move as it will have adverse consequences on the food security of the nation.

Telangana State: Spurt in Farmer’s Suicides

FARMER’S suicides in Telangana state (earlier part of unified Andhra Pradesh) have increased suddenly after its formation on June 2, 2014. It is not an exaggeration to say that not even a single day has passed without a report of farmers suicide(s) appearing in the daily newspapers. Reported suicides varied from one or two to a maximum of ten (on October 10, 22 and 24th and on November 29, 2014).

MAHARASHTRA: AIKS Holds March to Assembly on Peasant Issues

AROUND 5,000 peasants led by the Maharashtra State Kisan Sabha (AIKS) marched to the Nagpur session of the state assembly on December 16, 2014 on burning peasant issues like severe drought, peasant suicides, debt relief, remunerative prices for agricultural produce, implementation of the Forest Rights Act, etc. It was the first and the largest peasant demonstration on the assembly after the BJP-led state government assumed power a month ago. Hence the AIKS action got good publicity in both print and electronic media.

Punjab Holds State Conference of Agricultural Workers Union

THE 28th state conference of the Punjab Agriculture Worker’s Union was held from December 11-13, 2014 in Khankhana village in Jalandhar district to commemorate the first conference of the agricultural workers of Punjab that took place in 1954 from December 11-13, during which the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha was formed with Comrade Darshan Singh Jhabbal elected as the president and Comrade Pundit Bakshi Ram as general secretary.

Oppose Authoritarian Anti-People Land Acquisition Ordinance

THE All India Kisan Sabha, in a statement issued on December 31 has condemned the BJP government’s undemocratic move to amend the Land Acquisition legislation through an ordinance by subverting the parliament. The move smacks of authoritarianism and is clearly aimed to promote profiteering and real estate speculation by the corporates and land mafia. It further dilutes the existing Act which itself was flawed and loaded heavily against interests of the peasantry, land owners and dependents on land. The ordinance ignores genuine concerns of farmers and millions of persons dependent on land.

TELANGANA: Left Parties Launch Bus Jathas to Study Farmers’ Suicides

TEN Left and communist parties of Telangana have launched two bus jathas that traversed across the state of Telangana highlighting the need for immediate measures from the state government to prevent the spate of farmer suicides. Ever since the new state came into existence on June 2 this year, over 450 farmers took their lives in Telangana. The Left parties have declared that both private loans and the policies of the government are responsible for these suicides.

AIAWU Opposes Anti-People Policies of Centre, Curtailing of MGNREGA

THE Central Working Committee of the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) met at the SM Joshi Foundation in Pune, Maharashtra from November 11 to 12. The Union represents the largest number of organised agricultural labour in the country and expressed its concern over the NDA government’s anti-people policies in cutting down all types of security of the mass of people in employment, food and social services for the rural poor.

Save FCI, Save PDS

FOOD Corporation of India (FCI) is a crucial public sector undertaking in respect of public distribution system (PDS). FCI was formed in 1964 and its main objectives were to procure food grains directly from the farmers, supply them for PDS distribution and for maintaining price stability during scarcity. Despite its immense importance, the BJP-led government at the Centre is hell bent on its privatisation.

Problems of Jute Cultivation and Jute Industry

JUTE is the oldest cash crop of eastern India. It is a natural coarse fibre, made from the stems of a tropical plant and used for making rope/yard and woven into sacking, hessian, etc. Raw jute, as it is known in trade, comprises jute and mesta fibres. Jute fibre is obtained from two plants species, such as Corchorus Capsylaris (white jute) and Corchorus Otitoruus (tossa jute). The plant species Hibiscus sabdariffa var, altissima yield mesta fibres. Besides, there is another type of fibre known as bimli but not in the same species of jute.

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