Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Many farmers have realized that they are ighting a losing batle
with the “high yield variety fertilizer-pesticide pack ” of [the] Green
Revolution. They have also realized that the degradation and dis-
ruption of the fragile ecosystems of the “God's own country” are
the chief culprits for the water scarcity, nutritional insecurity, loss
of primary productivity and agrarian crisis being faced by the State.
The farmers in Kerala are convinced that the only way is to return
to the traditional sustainable ways of cultivation without harming
the ecosystem,
. . . [through] organic farming, a system with the
broad principle of “live and let live” . . . recognized nationally and
internationally.4
Agreeing on this language and forging the policy, however, was no easy
feat, and it took four turbulent years to come to fruition, with back and
forth debate between Kerala's Agriculture Department and the Biodiver-
sity Board. A large cast of characters participated in these debates—LDF
politicians, scientists from Kerala Agriculture University (K AU), NGOs
like Thanal, and farmers—and a listing of the main players follows:
Political Parties and Coalitions
• Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Chief Minister V. S.
Achuthanadan (2006-2011)
• Communist Party of India (CPI)
• Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI[M])
• Campaign: The People's Plan
Agriculture Department
• Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran
(2006-2011)
• Agricultural Production Minister K. Jayakumar
Ker ala Agricultur al University (KAU)
• Teacher's Association of K AU
• George Thomas
• J. Nair (also a member of the Biodiversity Board;
not his real name)
