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AGRARIAN CRISIS Discussion Series#2:
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TOPIC:
Agrarian Crisis: Peasants/Farmers Farming Vs Corporate Farming
SPEAKER:
Mr.G.N. Nagaraj, All India Agricultural Workers Union
DATE:
Dec 23rd, Wednesday 6:00 PM PT | 8:00 PM CT | 9:00 PM ET USA
DESCRIPTION:
Mukesh Ambani’s net worth is $75.8 billion (Rs. 5,53,340 Cr) as of December 16, making him the 11th richest man in the world and keeping 1st spot in India. India’s second-richest businessman, Gautam Adani of the Adani Group, is the 40th wealthy man in the world with a net income of $32.5 billion (Rs.2,37,250 Cr). Adani has added $21.1 billion to his net worth, which is more than Ambani’s gain this year. Till 2016, as per Forbes, Adani’s net worth was $3.5 billion.
When in 4 years Adani jumped from $3.5 to $32.5 billion, the farmers got 50 ps/kg raised for wheat as Minimum Support Price to Rs.19.75 but forced to sell at Rs. 19/Kg, How? Why?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
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Mr. G.N. Nagaraj is an M.Sc. graduate in agriculture from the university of agricultural sciences. He worked in the agricultural department in Karnataka state. His specific responsibility was to educate farmers in using proper methods and techniques. His last post was head of the agricultural extension work in a district.
Farmers suffered a lot in an area where Mr. Nagaraj was working because prices of the main crops they were growing suddenly crashed to one- third of the normal price. Farmers had worked hard. The crop was very good but still, they had to suffer. Added to this was the harassment of tax officials.
Therefore the discontent of farmers took the form of a series of protests. Nagaraj explained to them the causes of the crash in prices and encouraged them to participate in the protests. The farmer's protests grew day by day and became massive over six months. Finally, the government resorted to firing. Two farmers were killed. Hundreds of them were arrested. He resigned from the government job against this repression. He joined the farmer's organization and started organizing, writing to the press about the problems. He founded an organization of farm workers as they suffered most because of their social situation as Dalits and economic situation as landless agricultural labor.
He is organizing the peasants and agricultural workers for justice.
Please join the education series on peasant questions in general and current peasant protests in particular.
