KVM: A Compassionate Venture for Ecology, Health & Natural Farming in Punjab

Kheti Virasat Mission

A Ecological Movement : Born out of compassionConcerned about Environmental &Health Crisis of Punjab & Committed to take challenge of Socio-Ecological Reconstruction of Punjab A grass-root civil society ecological action group

Punjab : Fact File

Total geographical area-1.5 %

Highest Cropping intensity – 196 %

Highest Pesticides Usage– 18 %

Highest Fertilizers Usage - 10 %

Highest Tractor No.– 24 %

of India

Fat Labile Pesticides

Some pesticides are fat labile i.e. affinity for fatty tissue in body & they keep on accumulating

Females having greater mass of fatty tissue in body, more of these pesticides accumulate in female body

In any condition of stress in females when body fat is mobilized these pesticides stored in fat are released & flood the blood (pregnancy)

High levels of pesticides have been demonstrated in blood and breast milk

Carcinogenic Pesticides

Few pesticides are carcinogenic i.e. affect dividing cells more than the non-dividing cells

Females having large number of dividing tissues (uterus, bone marrow -to replace monthly blood loss, breast, thyroid etc.) are more vulnerable

Hence greater incidence of breast, uterus, thyroid and bone marrow cancers in women

Pesticides causing Reproductive Toxins

Chemicals damaging reproductive systems of both male & female

Exposure to these agents before conception produce a adverse effects i.e. reduced fertility, abnormal fetus, reduced libido or menstrual dysfunction

Maternal exposure after conception cause perinatal death, low birth weight, birth defects, behavioral disabilities & cancer

15 types of pesticides in 20 blood samples tested Blood sample contains a cocktail of 6-13 pesticides Organo-chlorine pesticides (DDT, Endosulfan) found to

be 15-605 times higher than those found in blood samples of US population

Found residues of the newer ‘non-persistent’

pesticides – organophosphates (acephate, monocrotophos, malathion, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos)

Pesticides Impact in Punjab: CSE Study

Constitute > 60% of total pesticides residues in the blood samples

Found Monocrotophos in 75% blood samples

Chlorpyrifos in 85% Malathion in 70%

Organophosphates – CSE report

High rate of menstrual disorders Spontaneous Abortions,

Miscarriages & still births Deteriorating semen quality, male

infertility leading impotence

Punjab Reproductive health

Punjab State Survey Report on Cancer

PGI Study confirms Pesticide link

PGI Chandigarh Study:indicating Pesticide Link with Cancer

VariablesTalwandi Sabo Chamkaur sahib OR

(95%CI)P-valueCases Controls Cases Controls

n=179 n=264 n=129 n=182

Cultivators 24(13.4) 34(12.9) 11(8.5) 8(4.4) 3.4 (1.4-8.5) 0.0046

Pattern of pesticide use

Pesticide user in agriculture

31(17.3) 37(14.0) 5(3.9) 5(2.7) 7.4 (2.6-22.3) 0.0000

Involved in spray 29(16.2) 37(14.0) 5(3.9) 5(2.7) 6.8 (2.4-20.7) 0.0000

Storage of pesticide at Home

14(7.8) 20(7.6) 4(3.1) 3(1.6) 5.1 (1.3-22.6) 0.0117

Tobacco use

Smokers 25(14.0) 14(5.3) 6(4.7) 5(2.7) 5.8 (2.0-17.6) 0.0002

Chewing Tobacco 14(7.8) 13(4.9) 5(3.9) 3(1.6) 5.1 (1.3-22.6) 0.011

Alcohol drink 24(13.4) 23(8.7) 17(13.2) 7(3.8) 3.9 (1.5-10.2) 0.002

CANCER TRAIN Gift of Green Revolution

Punjabi Generation facing Pesticide Side-Effects

Sacrococcygeal Teratoma

Sacrococcygeal Teratoma

Meningomyelocele Meningomyelocele

Duplication cyst

Yolk sac tumor

January 2002: Village Harkishanpura district Bathinda put itself on SALE

June 2005 : Village Malsinghwala , District Mansa on Sale

1 Commonality : Water Crisis &

Indebtedness

Villages for Sale : courtesy Green Revolution

Punjab The land of dark zones

1984 - 53 blocks 1995 - 84 2005 - 108

Total of 138 development blocks in Punjab

Water!!!

Drinking water problem villages

1980 - 3712 1990 - 6287 2000 - 8518 2004 - 11849 (95.39%)

*Out of total 12423 villages in Punjab are facing drinking water problems

Water Crisis in Punjab:A Comparison

Tube wells in Punjab

1970 - 1.92 lakh 1980 - 6 lakh 1990 - 8 lakh 2000- 10 lakh and

*Now - 14 lakh Approx.

Food Contaminated ? Air Contaminated ? Water Contaminated ? Body Contaminated ?

Are we heading Towards a Dying Civilization ?

Questions for Punjab ?

Kheti Virasat Mission :

A Movement :Born out of compassionConcerned about crisisCommitted to take challenge

KVM was formed in March 2005 with headquarters at Jaitu ,District-Faridkot.

A grass-root action group

Awareness & Fact Establishment on ongoing Crisis Organic Farming Trainings of around 10,000 farmers Farmer Base of around 4000 farmers In-House proven Organic Farming Techniques for Punjab Organizing ‘Expert Talks & Visits’ on Organic Farming Peoples’ dialogue on environmental health crisis

organizing across the state & built up informed debate Organic Kitchen Gardening involving > 1000 women

in 14 villages(Women Action Group) Campaigning on Cancer, Safe food , Water & Crop

Residue Burning

Activities :

Farmer Training Camps

More than 400 Farmer Training Camps through out Punjab

KVM’s Expert Farmers Across Punjab

KVM’s Expert Farmers Across Punjab

KVM’s Expert Farmers Across Punjab

Organic Farming Techniques

Organic Farming Techniques

Wheat Zero Till Drill Sowing

Crops KVM Work on

Organic Cotton

Organic MaizeOrganic Wheat Organic Sugarcane

Organic Basmati Organic Fodder Production

Organic Turmeric Organic Millets

Organic Farming Experts

Shri Manohar ParchureSubash PalekarSubash SharmaSuresh DesaiDeepak SuchdeDr. O P RupelaClaude AlvaresJayant BarveDr. RamanjaneyuluShri Prakhas RaghuvanshiDr. T.P. RajendranDr. D.U.M. RaoDr. A.K.Yadav

Organic Farming Experts

Dialogue on environmental health crisis across the state

Shri Devindra SharmaDr. Sudhendra SharmaSuman SahaiRajedra SinghSachidanand BhartiLaxman SinghP V SatishDr. S G KabraSunita NarayanChandra Bhushan

Since ages Punjabi Women were contributing in Agriculture but modern farming is making this fair gender out of fields. KVM strongly work for reviving women contribution through activities :Kitchen gardening Women awarenessBabe-di-Rasoi/Traditional Food FestivalNavtrinjna

Women Action Group

Involving women in ecological initiatives

Feeding families with pesticide free food :

Natural Kitchen gardening more then 1200 women started growing pesticide free vegetables

Organic Kitchen Garden

A initiative to conserve the Heritage of our grandmothers Healthy traditional

recipes

Bebe-Di-Rasoi

Bebe-Di-Rasoi

Millet Based Traditional Food Festival

Bebe-Di-Rasoi

Nav-TrinjanA Women Initiative

Trinjan, a symbol of liberty and wisdom of women, provides a platform for sharing skills like embroidery, weaving, knitting, spinning, cooking , health and traditional knowledge related with agriculture like seeds, sowing, herbs etc. women also shared their sorrows and joys with each other in Trinjan

Organizing Farmer Market :

Campaigning on Cancer, Safe Food & Water

Campaigning Against Straw Burning

A initiative by KVM to generate awareness in society a bi monthly magazine on relevant topic related to:Organic Farming Techniques Environment issueHealth IssueGovt. Policy IssuesSuccess Stories of Punjab Farmers

Balihari Kudrat:Our Bi-monthly Magzine

Our Publication Wing

Other Publications

Satyamev Jayate Price money meant for NGO working on Pesticides & toxicity

Recognition :

In last 8yrs KVM successfully raised issue on Environmental crisis & its strong relation with Agriculture toxicity

Section of Society understand concerns raised & support our initiatives

We request you to strengthen this movement & make Punjab a better place for coming generation

Message

Spread our Message Join Our Campaigning Adopt a village Sponsor a study or field research Sponsor an Organic farmer Monthly, Quarterly or Annual Donations Sponsor KVM monthly magazine and

publications

You Can Help:

Online donations can be made to KVM

KHETI VIRASAT MISSION TRUSTSTATE BANK OF PATIALA a/c 65001305340 Branch-JAITU, IFS CODE : STBP0000044=======================================================AXIS BANK a/c 912010021510084 , Branch – FaridkotIFS CODE: UTIB0000417

DONATIONS MADE TO KVM ARE ELIGIBLE TO GETBENEFITS OF SECTION 80 –G INCOME TAX ACT 1961.

Be generous towards Ecological Action Donate for KVM

“If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.”_____ Jonas Salk

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http://www.khetivirasatmission.org/

http://www.womenactionforecology.webs.com/

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Khetivirasatmission@gmail.com

+91-9872682161

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Thank You

God is Omnipresent in the entire Nature and hurting Nature is violence against the God.