Thousands of Farmers to converge in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on 2nd October 2005 to protest the Union Government’s WTO policies and dumping of subsidised agricultural products’
The Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements, a coalition of farmer unions from across the country will hold a press conference on 1st October 2005 at the Mumbai Press Club (3-4 pm), a day ahead of the massive protests at Azad Maidan on 2nd October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The massive protest on October 2nd is against the increased dumping of cheap subsidised agricultural goods and pro-corporate anti farmer policies of the Government of India.
Since 1995, when India joined the WTO, there has been a surge in imports of agricultural commodities, which are being dumped by developed countries in the international market below their cost of production. This has led to a deep decline in domestic agriculture prices and has deepened the agrarian crisis in rural India. The bulk of agricultural imports constitute mainly edible oils, pulses (chickpeas, pigeon peas, lentils, dry peas etc.) Other major items imported on a regular basis include dairy products, raw cashew nuts, fruits and raw cotton.
This crisis in Indian agriculture is evident from farmers suicides in every corner of the country. This is a direct result of the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture that protects subsidies in the developed countries and allows them to dump cheap commodities in countries such as India. Despite this India’s position towards the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial in December 2005 does not reflect the concerns of farmers.
Speakers at the Press conference on October 1 2005 include:
Yudhvir Singh (Bhartiya Kisan Union), Vijay Jawandhiya (Shetkari Sangathnna, Wardha) Chukki Najundaswamy (Karnataka Rajya Ryota Sangha) Ajmer Singh Lokhowal (Bhartiya Kisan Union, Ludhyana) Sunilam (Madhya Pradesh Kisan Sangharsh Samiti Multaie) and Rakesh Tikait (Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union)
For further details contact: Afsar Jafri – 98330 70803 or a.jafri@focusweb.org
====================================================================
Benny Kuruvilla
Focus on the Global South – India
A-201, Kailash Apartments
Juhu Church Road
Juhu , Mumbai – 400049
India
Tel:91.22.55821141/55821151
Tel Fax:91.22. 26251347
Email : bennyk@focusweb.org
Website: http://www.focusweb.org
Comments are closed