| Conversation on Agriculture with Kiran Vissa |
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Conversation on Agriculture: drought, debt, consumer-producer links, GM and more. How has the Indian farmer fared in this year's drought? What role do consumers play in the big picture of food and farming? Can we look forward to more happy stories on agriculture? What is AID doing and how can we do better? Join Kiran Kumar Vissa, AID Jeevansaathi for a conversation on agriculture. Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 451-6000 | Access Code: 291962#  Two years ago on Gandhi Jayanti, volunteers of AID around the world set
out on a journey of solidarity with India's farmers. Since then we
have learned more about the issues of land, soil, seeds, water, pests
and policies and their impacts on the farmer, farmworker and the hungry
in India. We are keeping in touch with villages like Surodi, transformed by watershed work started 7 years ago. We have extended support to organizations like Chetana Vikas
promoting self reliant techniques among farmers in suicide-prone areas
like Vidarbha. Kitchen garden program In Srikakulam is improving
nutrition for landless poor, while nutrition program revives the
tradition of ragi - millet - a hardy crop that farmers turned to in the
face of the recent drought.
In Anantpur district where 85% of the lands could not be sown until
August because of monsoon failure, with support from a few chapters we
worked on a Millets seeds project
that resulted in more than 8000 acres being sown with millets, thus protecting the farmers' livelihoods as well as fodder for cattle.Brinjal Festivals spread awareness in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Dilli Haat and beyond, prompting more people to probe questions on GM foods and sustainable agriculture. From the consumer end, initiatives like ReStore in Chennai and Sahaja Aharam in Hyderabad have linked consumers to producers of organically grown and sustainably harvested foods so that farmers practicing these techniques have greater opportunities and the movement can grow. Recently several chapters have heard from Jaideep Hardikar and are planning to host Devinder Sharma next month. What have we learned from the festivals, projects, journalists, scientists and farmers on the issues of food security and livelihood for those who farm the land? Let us hear from Kiran and share our thoughts, questions and hopes for the future of food and farming. Conversation on AID & Agriculture Sat Oct 3, 9:30 pm EST | Sun Oct 4, 7:00 am IST. Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 451-6000 | Access Code: 291962# |
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