Comments on: Census of farmer suicides

By: The Langar Hall » Blog Archive » Another count of Farmer Suicides

The Langar Hall » Blog Archive » Another count of Farmer Suicides — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:11:47 +0000

[...] A little while ago, we mentioned a census commissioned by the Punjab government and being conducted by the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, documenting the rates of farmer suicides in Punjab. [...]

By: Mewa Singh

Mewa Singh — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:22:59 +0000

Parkinson’s disease has also been linked to various combinations of pesticides as well.

By: J Josan

J Josan — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:02:49 +0000

Another aspect which needs to studied obejectively by any neutral agency is effect of pesticides on increase in incidence of cancer deaths in Punjab, particularly, Malwa region which is a major region for cotton crop which requires maximum usage of pesticide.

It also needs to study effect of excessive use of pesticides & fertilizer on ground-water and its effect on human health.

By: Reema

Reema — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:53:14 +0000

Jiwan jot,

Were you watching the french documentary on Monsanto (’the world according to monsanto’) or something else? It sounds interesting…

What new law was passed in France?

Thanks for the info…

By: Georgeta

Georgeta — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:33:39 +0000

I’m glad to see finally that there is EVIDENCE regarding the connection between the harmful chemicals in pesticides/herbicides and cancer. In the USA, this connection is totally dismissed by the doctors and other authorities who keep saying that the cause of cancer is unknown. Multiple Myeloma, which is a blood (immune system) cancer, is relatively new and its prevalence is mostly in farming areas where chemicals are used extensively. Many farmers in the USA suffer from different cancers but no one seems to see the connection. The grid for money is what it counts the most.

By: Jiwan jot kaur

Jiwan jot kaur — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:52:11 +0000

A few days ago ,i was on the net watching videos of angry farmers in FRANCE ,after the new law…”THE NEW MONSANTO” law finally passed after meeting much resistance .
But of course ,it passed!!
RELATED to the subject were interviews on videos ,many videos …and documentaries on how the big american corporation “MONSANTO” has been ruining the lifes of many farmers around the planet …from argentina ,to canada ,to INDIA,you name it .everywhere.
i was until 3 a.m watching the stuff and I learned a lot about the pesticide ;”Round up’ and how it is misleading the farmers into believing it is a panacee ……and after 3 years or so ,how the plants develop new deseases,the farmers having to buy more and more pesticide …
what an abomination!
How can so many good people be dealing with so much evil energy?
Jiwan jot kaur .

By: Reema

Reema — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:34:46 +0000

Mewa,

I also thought it was curious that laborers weren’t being included in the census. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions but it does seem odd to divide on a caste-ish level. I also wonder if it might also be an attempt to keep numbers lower.

By: Mewa Singh

Mewa Singh — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:39:40 +0000

"The primary threat to nature and people today comes from centralising and monopolising power and control. Not until diversity is made the logic of production will there be a chance for sustainability, justice and peace. Cultivating and conserving diversity is no luxury in our times: it is a survival imperative." Vandana Shiva

Thanks for the post Reema. It is interesting that PAU is so slow to push these new initiatives. It was the PAU that was at the center of receiving numerous monies from the Ford Foundation to push Punjab to adopt capitalist farming during the 1960s, launching the Green Revolution. The increased wealth through big farmer land consolidation and the showiness of bigger tractors, bigger cars, and bigger houses was bought at the price of the ecological disaster that Punjab is facing today. Vandana Shiva has a fascinating eco-Marxian analysis of the Green Revolution and the violence of the 1980s in her book Violence of the Green Revolution: Third World Agriculture, Ecology, and Politics. One interesting point about the study was the comment:

The census will take into account farmer suicides occurring after April 1, 2005, excluding suicides of farm laborers.

It seems rather odd to me that farm laborers would be excluded. The debts of farmers would also be felt by the laborers. Laborers routinely are promised wages that they never receive. I wonder if there is a certain caste-ist reason for the exclusion.