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Seeds of Destruction Last three or four years have seen a number of books, documentaries and articles on the dangers of Genetically Modified (GM) seeds. Majority has focused on adverse health and environmental impact; almost none on the geo-politics of GM seeds, and particularly seeds as a weapon of mass destruction. Engdahl has addressed this issue but the crop seed is one of the many "Seeds of Destruction" in this book. Widespread Debate on Draft National Biotechnology Regulation Bill We understand from your website (http://dbtbiosafety.nic.in/inner1.html) that the last date for sending the feedback to you on the draft policy on NBR is 22nd June 2008. The National Biotechnology Bill is an extraordinary piece of legislation on an issue that critically affects every citizen of this country either directly or indirectly. Therefore it needs a serious and intensive democratic debate from all quarters of this country. Millets are the answer the Indian Farming Crisis PRESS RELEASE Declaring millets as the future of food and farming for India, representatives of farmers, scientists, development academics and civil society activists have called for immediate inclusion of millets in the Public Distribution System of India. They also said that millets can be the only answer to the agrarian, ecological and energy crisis as well as the impending climate change challenges that is haunting Indian farming. ANOTHER YEAR OF DOOM PRESS RELEASE The huge hype of Bt Cotton has once again trapped cotton farmers in Andhra Pradesh The results of a season long [covering Kharif cotton season of 2007-2008] study by the Deccan Development Society and the AP Coalition in Defence of Diversity clearly shows that Bt cotton farmers suffered 10% less profits than the farmers who cultivated non Bt but practiced non pesticidal [NPM] methods on their farms. CONCLUSION OF NINTH MOBILE The 9th month-long Annual Mobile Biodiversity Festival concluded on 13 February 2008 at Pachasaale Campus of Machnoor village, Jharasangam Mandal, Medak District. OPEN LETTER TO We have read the press reports of a proposed bio-diesel policy due to be finalised shortly by the Government of India under the leadership of your Ministry. As is evident from the media coverage, the discussions on this subject have been dominated by the corporate sector, business associations, energy entrepreneurs, industrial houses, private firms, government agencies and large PSUs. The voice of the small and rural and their needs does not appear to have been factored in into these discussions. This is a matter of deep concern to all of us who work with in rural and tribal belts with very small farmers, poor, women, pastoralists, indigenous communities, dalits and adivasis. Protest Meet in Tamilnadu on NBA Chief Irresponsible Speech on GM Crops This protest meeting to condemn Prof. Kannaiyan, NBA (National Biodiversity Authority) was organized in response to his irresponsible speech defending GM crops when inaugurating a seminar on bio diversity, bio resources, bio technology and sustainable livelihood of the rural communities organized by Loyola College, Chennai on 18th January 2008. His speech was not only defending GM crops for future food production for the increasing population but also criticized those who oppose GM in a provoking words. To oppose his misleading and arrogant speech SAGE TN Chapter in collaboration with other NGOs, farmers movement and consumer movements organized this protest meeting demanding his immediate resignation from the chair of NBA "Biodiversity & Biotechnology" How Can you do that? Every citizen of this country who has concerns and commitment for the conservation of biodiversity, has received with shock and disbelief the statement you have made welcoming genetically engineered crops to save this country. To put it most mildly, it is extremely unfortunate that the chief of a national body meant to safeguard the biodiversity in the country should issue a statement such as the following: Whose harvest? The politics of organic seed certification The vision behind organic agriculture is one in which care for the environment and health are central, and farmers get a fair deal for their efforts. But organic agriculture is also becoming serious business – with marketing tools, like certification, occupying more and more space and influence. More than 30 million hectares of certified organic farmland worldwide already produce goods for a global market worth €30 billion.2 This market, moreover, is growing fast, much faster than the global market for conventional food products. The main markets for certified organic foods are still very much in the North, but organic production for export is steadily increasing in the South, as are new strategies at the grassroots to develop local organic food and farming systems – most of which reject the business approach to certification. Rejoinder to the article by Dr. Gurucharan Das Dr Gurcharan Das in his recent article in the Times of India [TOI, 4th November, 2007] makes a forceful argument for cultivation of GE crops in India, particularly Bt Cotton. It is not probably coincidental that the ISAAA, the biotech industry’s lobby organization, which relentlessly and aggressively mongers genetically engineered crops all over the world, held its Board Meeting in Delhi last month and decided to take some selected Indian farmers to Europe to propagate Bt Cotton to European farmers. STORY ON WOMEN OF ZAHEERABAD TAKE ON MONSANTO WINS LAUREL In a rare feat, Mr Aruna Shrivasta’s story titled- Women of Zaheerabad take on Monsanto won worldwide acclamation in a contest conducted by Project Censored Media Democracy in Action. The story was ranked 8th among the top 25 censored stories in 2008. It is one of the powerful read on issues of survival Organic Products for Sale The following organic products are available for sale
at the DDS Sangam Shop at Zaheerabad. The produce is from the
fields and farms of the members of the DDS women sanghams all of who
are invariably ecological farmers. Many other organic non sangham farmers
have joined us in this movement to enlarge the organic family in this
region. Their produce is also included in the SANGHAM SHOP |
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Affirming Life and Diversity
The Hyderabad Declaration on millets We, representatives from farmer organizations, civil society groups, scientific community and development academics have met at the National Institute of Rural Development, Rajendranagar as members of the Millet Network of India [MINI] on June 5th and 6th in the National Consultation on Millets and resolved that Millets are the future of Indias food and farming and therefore it is time for the policy makers to wake up to this reality. Launch of a Multimedia Publication AFFIRMING LIFE AND DIVERSITY:Rural Images and Voices on Food Sovereignty in South India May 19, 2008 For the first time in the history of India, a group of non literate, dalit, women filmmakers from a backward district of AP has made an international debut with a multimedia publication called “Affirming Life and Diversity” that consists text and a collection of 12 videos on issues of development made by the women themselves. The videos range from the issues that are very close to their immediate realities and their communities to the first international film made by a group of peasant women anywhere in the world. NEW SYSTEM THROWS UP SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT Physically and fiscally unsustainable" is how the Central government’s Department of Food and Public Distribution describes the tottering Public Distribution System (PDS). The Indian PDS, perhaps the largest welfare measure anywhere in the world, amounts to a food subsidy bill of Rs 23,828 crore (2006-07). The subsidy stood at Rs 2,850 crore in 1991-92. Despite the size of the outlay, however, a large number of the 180 million families targeted by the system do not receive their share of foodgrains."DDS secures'PGS Organic Logo" April 9th 2008 PRESS RELEASE
Deccan Development Society [DDS], which works with over 5000 ecological women farmers in the Medak District, has the proud privilege of being the first agency in India to secure the formal approval by the PGS Organic India to use the PGS Organic logo on the farm produce cultivated by its farmers BIOFUEL IN INDIA ALL INDIA MILLET NETWORK LAUNCHED
A unique national initiative called All India Millet Network started by the Deccan Development Society, an NGO in the state was formally launched in Machnoor Village at Medak District on October 16, 2007 by the noted organic farmer and ideologue Dr Nammalwar of the Tamil Nadu Organic Farmers Movement. World Food Day Celebrations World Food Day is the annual celebratory activity of DDS, Pastapur in which the women of DDS sanghams who have been pursuing ecological agriculture, food and seed sovereignty and rich biodiversity in their food and farming systems. ORGANIC MOBILE MOVES INTO SANGAREDDY & HYDERABAD The ORGANIC MOBILE of the Deccan Development Society the internationally reputed NGO from Zaheerabad will be stationed in the District Offices complex every Monday from 0930 a.m. till 6 p.m. Citizens of Sangareddy can purchase a wide variety of highly nutritious organic products from this Organic mobile. The products brought directly from farmers are grown completely under ecological conditions.National Environment Awareness Campaigns (NEAC) 2007-2008 The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India has invited applications from NGOs / Institutes of Education & Training and Community Organisations, Professional associations, Scientific Bodies etc., for receiving financial support ranging from Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 20,000/- for the conduct of National Environment Awareness Campaigns (NEAC) 2007-2008. Supreme Court upholds Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on GMOs A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court in the year 2005 on GMOs where DDS was a co-petitioner along with Aruna Rodrigues and Devinder Sharma.
Non literate Farming women make film history - Win a major national award The prestigious UGC-CEC National Award for the Best
Educational Video Film has been won by the DDS Community Media Trust,
a group of women farmer-filmmakers from Pastapur Village in Medak District
of AP.
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