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Chennai:
Spurred by negative impacts of chemical pesticides and other toxic
inputs in our food and farming and advocating a shift towards
ecological farming, a safe food mela was organized at a city park
in Chennai on June 24.
It is part a nation wide mobilization campaign to create awareness
among the citizens about the ill effects of the pesticides in our
food. Many celebrities,’ cine artists, writers, intellectuals,
youth turned out in large numbers to endorse the theme India for
safe food.
Traditional foods and snacks from
organic sources, millet based foods, urban gardening, materials,
organic seeds diversity of organic leafy vegetables were at
display in the safe food mela.
There were posters all around
creating awareness about the ill effects of pesticides. Several
organic outlets of the city, organic farmer groups and other safe
food enthusiasts took part in the event. A stall on urban
gardening, informed on the ills effects of pesticides in our food,
and the implications of the genetically modified food.
The Mela showcased various safe food options, tasty organic foods
and snacks to buy and eat traditional rice and millet foods, fresh
greens and mangoes. People were seen making bee line in all the
stalls especially those that were selling food items.
An important aspect of the campaign was a petition asking the
Union Agriculture Minister to take steps towards government
support for organic farming and distribution, ensuring wide access
to safe foods; banning dangerous pesticides etc.
A number of personalities, actors, musicians, artists, writers and
intellectuals who gathered at the safe food Mela endorsed the
petition. The petition can be signed on-line by going to http://indiaforsafefood.in/sendpetition.
India for safe food is a movement for change among Indian farmers,
consumers and the government to ensure that all Indians have
access to safe food, devoid of toxic substances.
Today Indian agriculture uses hundred of toxic chemicals in large
volumes, which end up contaminating water, soil and food. Studies
indicate that in India, vegetables, fruits, staple cereals,
pulses, meat, milk, eggs, poultry, in addition to drinking water,
processed foods, beverages are contaminated with poisonous
residues to various degrees. Our export consignments are being
rejected for their toxic residues.
Studies also show that pesticide exposure is correlated with
serious health risks including cancer, endocrine disruption,
causing gynecological disorders, organ damage, immune system,
impairment and so on.
There is also much that is wrong with regulatory system and
approach related to chemical pesticide in the country. There are
fundamental ways in which the issue has to be addressed, changes
in our technological approach to agriculture as well as our
regulatory approach.
We hope to bring about a change collectively, through citizens
involvement with India for safe food campaign, explained Dr
Sivaraman of Safe Food Alliance.
Ananthoo, a safe food activist said,”we believe that central
government addressing at least four components urgently will
ensure safe food for all of us. Appropriate investment in
promoting ecological farming- ensuring access to organic food by
establishing safe food outlets and using PDS- providing poison
free food under various food scheme to pregnant and lactating
women and children- banning those pesticides that have been banned
in other countries, and known to have chronic and adverse
impacts.”
There is also much that is wrong with the regulatory system and
approach related to chemical pesticides in the country.
Governments have allowed toxins in farming and food even while
there is ample evidence and experience on the ground to show that
farming is indeed possible and profitable through ecological
methods.
An example of this is the Community Managed Sustainable
Agriculture project in Andhra Pradesh, supported by the State
government’s rural development department that has managed to wean
away lakhs of farmers from chemical pesticides successfully. This
shows that even governments can invest and run knowledge intensive
eco agriculture programme and bring about large scale change.
These are together possible only if the agriculture ministry
creates at least a level playing field between chemical intensive
agriculture and ecological farming.
“The India for safe food campaign emphasizes that transgenic
technology is no solution either and seeks to preempt arguments
that project it” so says social activist Ramasubramanian of
Samanvaya that vouches for shaping action for better planet. He
points that both Bt and Ht (Herbicide Tolerant) have only resulted
in more pesticide usage even as they created super pets and super
weeds bringing deadly pesticides into use.
There are several organizations including India for Safe Food that
are working to create awareness amongst citizens about the
ill-effects of chemical pesticides and other toxins in food. They
are reaching out to citizens through educational institutions,
welfare associations, consumer organizations, eminent citizens,
celebrities and so on.
This campaign is going to be extended to other cities over the
next few weeks and Melas, film-screenings and other events are
going to be held in Delhi, Patna Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai,
Kolkata.
The awareness about safe food is a long drawn out battle and it
requires citizen’s involvement to ensure that each of us should
have access to safe food.
(More information on this can be at
http://indiaforsafefood.in)
Syed Ali Mujtaba is a
journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com
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