1.Ryots plan protest in New Delhi on March 9
2.FARMERS' PROTEST IN DELHI ON MAR. 9

EXTRACTS: Chukki Nanjundaswamy, convener of South Asia Conference of Farmer's Federations... added that the genetically modified seeds were also emerging as a threat to traditional seeds.

"The conference resolved to destroy the field trials of GM seeds on agriculture fields wherever it is done anywhere in the country," she added. (item 1)

[Farmers' leaders from Karnataka, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh] who also addressed the press [conference], called upon the farming community in India and other Asian countries to resist GM seeds and adopt traditional methods. (item 2)
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1.Ryots plan protest in New Delhi on March 9
Deccan Herald, Feb 17 2010
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/138721/ryots-plan-protest-delhi-march.html

Mysore - To protest the anti-farmer policies of the central Government, the All India Federation of Farmers' Associations would stage a demonstration in New Delhi on March 9, said Chukki Nanjundaswamy, convener of South Asia Conference of Farmer's Federations on Thursday.

In a news conference here, she said that the two-day South Asia Conference of the Federation of Farmers' Associations held under the auspices of International Federation of Farmers' Association, La Via Compesina at Doddaballapur here has decided to hold the protest.

Thousands of farmers from across the country would take part in the dharna in the Capital.

Exploitation

She said the two-day conference condemned the exploitation of farmers world-wide in the name of economic development and special economic zones (SEZ).

 If the agricultural community in India was facing multitude of problems arising out of the globalisation and liberalisation policies, the ryots in countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, African nations have also become the victims, he said.

Feudalism

She said farmers in Nepal were also affected by the SEZ policy, while feudalism continued to haunt the agricultural community labourers in Bangladesh, Nepal and other countries.

At the conference in Doddaballapur, farmers have widely condemned the failure of the Governments to protect the interest of farmers and agriculture labourer community in respective countries, including India.

Various states

The protest in New Delhi which would be attended by farmers from different states in the country would also demand the central government to withdraw the Seed Bill from being placed in the Parliament. "We will insist that the MPs not to extend their support to the bill," she said.

She added that the genetically modified seeds were also emerging as a threat to traditional seeds.

"The conference resolved to destroy the field trials of GM seeds on agriculture fields wherever it is done anywhere in the country," she added.
 
Disastrous

Rajya Raitha Sangha leader Badagalpura Nagendra said the Seed Bill, if introduced and passed, would be disastrous on the Indian agricultural community.

The protest in the capital would make  members of Parliament realise the adverse impact of the bill when it was passed in the House.

Natural farming

On the occasion, Sharath Fernando, a farmer leader who led the campaign for natural farming in Srilanka said he was inspired by Subhash Palekar, a propagator of natural farming. "India is the genesis of campaign for natural farming and Subhash Palekar.

"Many small farmer groups in Srilanka have been inspired by Palekar and attended his lectures in India. The campaign natural farming has gained momentum in Srilanka and has got support from Government," he said.

Intervention

Another farmer leader from Nepal, Balaram Bankota said people of a society had every sovereign right for the choice of food and governments should not intervene bringing in draconian policies.

Expressing similar opinion, Badrul Alam from Bangladesh asked the farming community in India and the Asian countries to resist the GM seeds and adopt to natural farming to protect the soil.
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2.FARMERS' PROTEST IN DELHI ON MAR. 9
Star of Mysore, 18 February 2011
http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=news&item=27486

Mysore, Feb. 18 (MTY&DM)-The All India Federation of Farmers Associations will stage a demonstration in New Delhi on March 9, in protest against the anti-agrarian policies of the Central Government.

Announcing this at a press conference at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here yesterday, Chukki Nanjundaswamy, Convenor, South Asia Conference of Farmers Federations, said the decision to stage a protest in the national capital was taken at the two-day South Asia Conference held recently in Dodaballapur under the auspices of International Federation of Farmers Associations.

Thousands of farmers from across the country would take part in the protest on March 9, she said.

Commenting on the decisions taken at the two-day meet at Dodaballapur, Chukki Nanjundaswamy said the meet had condemned the exploitation of farmers worldwide in the name of economic development by setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The agricultural community in India was facing a multitude of problems arising out of globalisation and liberalisation and farmers from South Asian countries, Nepal, Bangladesh and Africa were no exception, she pointed out.

The protest in New Delhi to be attended by thousands of farmers from across the country will demand the Centre not to place the Seed Bill in Parliament. MPs also will be asked not to extend their support to the Bill, she said and added that genetically modified seeds were fast emerging as a threat to traditional seeds.

Chukki Nanjundaswamy further said other strategies to be adopted over acquisition of farmers' land and mode of creating awareness among farmers about not giving up their lands have also been discussed.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leader Badagalapura Nagendra, farmers’ leaders from Sri Lanka Sarath Fernando, from Nepal Balram Bankota and Badrul Alam from Bangladesh who also addressed the press meet called upon the farming community in India and other Asian countries to resist GM seeds and adopt traditional methods.