Jayati flays agri scientists

Prof Jayati Ghosh, an expert on agricultural issues, on Monday strongly criticised the agricultural research scientists of the State, saying that their research was not aimed at helping local peasants.

“There is no connection between the agriculture and the research carried out by scientists. Their work is helping the multi-national companies and does not support the local farmers at all.” “And ultimately, it is the US which is getting benefitted as the superpower has been declaring patent rights for all the products,” she castigated. Prof Ghosh was participating in the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of ‘Rytu Vani’ a magazine on farmers’ issues here on Monday.

Coming down heavily on the policies of State and Centre, Prof Ghosh lambasted that the agriculture sector was deliberately destroyed. “The governments have been playing to the tunes of US. It is the US which is dictating terms on crops, seeds and prices” she said. “Land, water, tenant farmers, employment, expansion and loan waiver are the six key issues that need to addressed while taking up any measures in the agriculture sector. This was what I had suggested to the Centre sometime back. It was put in cold storage. Even the recommendations of Prof Swaminathan Commission were not taken into consideration” she lamented.

V Srinivasa Rao, former Editor of Rytu Vani and Politburo member of CPIM cautioned that the World Agriculture Congress was likely to take pro-corporate policy decisions which are detrimental in the interests of the farmers of the state. “Its really going to be a challenge and we have to oppose this” he urged.