labels: economy - general
Farmers of the state unite news
James Paul
15 December 2001
Kochi: Steps are afoot to seek the support of all concerned to build a common platform for a joint political action to safeguard the interests of Kerala's farmers in the post-WTO regime. The attempt is to garner support for a joint action of the type launched by trade unions of different political parties to protect workers' interests from the 'adverse effects' of WTO regulations.

At the national level, trade unions, cutting across political lines, have chalked out an action plan to resist what they consider to be anti-labour components of the WTO package. Outfits with sharply different political perceptions like INTUC, AITUC, CITU and BMS have joined hands to launch a united struggle.

The deepening distress of farmers has become an impetus to the search for a common platform to launch a united, pro-farmer struggle. The campaign, to bring together farmers' organisations under a single umbrella, has started. Informal talks among various organisations are underway, says All-India Kisan Sabha state general secretary Sabha Sathyan Mokeri.

As a part of this attempt, a mass sathyagraha will be staged in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on 21 December jointly by the farmers' wings of the constituents of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). This would be followed by regional conventions in different parts of Kerala in January.

Though only pro-LDF organisations would figure in the show of protest on 21 December, front leaders hope to rope in the support of pro-UDF organisations also for their programmes in the near future. The state unit of the All-India Kisan Sabha, the farmers' wing of the CPI, has got in touch with farmers' organisations of other political parties. That includes the Karshaka Congress of the Congress.

Leaders engaged in this endeavour have also sought the cooperation of leaders of even non-political movements, including the Indian Farmers Movement (Infam), which is now engaged in a vigorous campaign to build pressure for pro-farmer reforms.

The statistics put out by the pro-CPI All-India Kisan Sabha on the extent of losses suffered by farmers on account of fall in prices of farm produces are alarming. The total loss suffered by the farmers due to the steep decline in prices of the seven main crops in the state is as high as Rs 17,800 crore in the past three years alone, according to Kisan Sabha.

The loss due to fall in prices of coconut, which accounts for 40 per cent of the state's agricultural income, is about Rs 1,291 crore during the last three years, taking Rs 6 to be the fair and remunerative price for a coconut. The income of pepper farmers has also shrunk because of the slump in market prices from a peak of Rs 200 per kg to Rs 74 during this period.

The decline in rubber prices has resulted in a total loss of Rs 4,296 crore in three years. Ginger, which once fetched farmers nearly Rs 1, 000 per bag of 60 kg, is now selling for as low as Rs 200-300. Arecanut prices have also crashed to as low as Rs 35 per kg from Rs 180. Coffee and tea-growers have also suffered heavy losses. Only cardamom prices have remained steady.

Mokeri says the beneficiaries of the crisis in the farm sector have been the industrialists. This is clear from the fact that there has not been any significant fall in the prices of industrial products made from rubber, coconut or coffee. ''Industrialists have been prospering at the expense of farmers. It is time to sink minor political differences and launch a joint struggle for the farmers' cause.''

Among the remedial measures being demanded by the groups that are planning the joint action are continuation of subsidies, support price and a vigorous campaign to encourage farmers to manufacture and market value-added products.

Bringing together groups with varied interests is easier said than done. The difficult question of reaching a consensus on the remedial measures to revive the farm sector would arise later. The campaigners for a joint action platform for the farmers' cause are confident they would succeed.

 search domain-b
  go
 
Farmers of the state unite