Dear friend,
The Kisan Swaraj yatra has now reached Orissa. Thousands of farmers here are protesting against the government policies, and their anti-farmer agreements with multinational seed corporation Monsanto.
In fact, at least five state governments have entered into agreements with Monsanto to spend hundreds of crores each year to purchase and promote the company's hybrid maize seed These seeds are distributed along with chemical fertilizers in rain-fed and ecologically fragile tribal areas. The farmers
are explicitly denied a right to recourse if their seeds fail. On Nov 16, the Yatra released a report in Bhubaneswar exposing the “Monsanto-ization of Indian agriculture.”
Many such government actions are handing over Indian agriculture to large corporations, denying farmers' rights and pushing small farmers out of agriculture. Our food, health and the livelihood of millions of farmers are at stake.
Can you sign this petition to Ms. Sonia Gandhi, asking the Indian government to adopt policies that support farmers' rights and sustainable agriculture?
http://www.kisanswaraj.in/petition2/
A large number number of people signing this petition will help show the support this issue has among the people of this country. It will also help convince Ms Sonia Gandhi to take some action.
The Kisan Swaraj Yatra is an initiative to strike out a new path in agriculture, which provides a dignified livelihood to all our farmers and farm workers, and keeps our soil alive and our food and water healthy. From Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat on Oct 2nd, the bus Yatra is traveling through 20 states to reach Raj Ghat on Dec 11th.
Even as the Yatra is being hailed as a much-needed effort not just for farmers but for the good of the whole society, we need the Indian government to sit up and take notice. Sign this petition now to save our food from damage.
http://www.kisanswaraj.in/petition2/
In solidarity
Kavitha Kuruganti,
Kisan Swaraj Yatra
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