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Stem Farmers' Suicides with Organic Farming
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by Sam Burcher
Science in Society
Issue 32, Winter 2006

Amid a rising epidemic of farmers' suicides in
India, an organic farmer appeals to the father
of the Green Revolution to embrace organic
agriculture.

UN slams India for farmer suicides

India has enough food to feed her population of one billion, yet hunger
and food insecurity at household level increased at the end of the 20th
century. A new UN report casts doubt on the government's claim that
poverty declined from 36 to 26 percent between 1993-2000. It criticizes
the shift to cash crops that reduced the cultivation of grains, pulses
and millets for household consumption. The report slams the rise of
farmer suicides in India and links them to the unremitting growth of a
market economy that does not benefit all Indians equally.

On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 10:51:29 +0000, "Pete ‹(•¿•)›"
yahoo.com> wrote:

Is this garden self-sufficient in water?

Does it have a well? Does it have sufficent rainfall? Does it have
sufficient storage capacity to provide a daily supply adequate for
the needs of the people, animals and plants on every day of the year
regardless of season and weather?

Alternatively is there access to a shared water source - a river or
well perhaps - that provides a reliable all-year-round supply?

If not, the people, animals and plants are likely to be "stuffed"
(and shrivelled).

"Pete <(.

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Organic Farms Make Healthy Plants Make Healthy People
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Dr. Eva Novotny
Science in Society
Issue 32, Winter 2006

Organic foods are richer in minerals and
vitamins and relatively free from harmful
chemicals and additives.

The importance of good food and good soil -- a page from history

People in the industrialised Western world rely increasingly on ready-
prepared meals and packaged foods. For increased shelf life, some of
the ingredients will have been refined, with the most nutritionally
valuable components (such as the germ and bran of grains) discarded, and
extra chemicals added as preservative or as flavouring or colour. At
the same time, there is rising incidence of heart disease, cancers,
diabetes, allergies and other disorders. Could there be a connection
between diet and disease?