Projects to End Farmer Suicide

Vidharba's Tragedy

In July 2007, Amma sent Brahmachari Eknath, who hails from Maharashtra, to Vidarbha in order to begin the Mata Amritanandamayi Math's relief-work there.

Eknath: "Vidarbha is a region in eastern Maharashtra. About 50 percent of the farmers there are suffering from crop failures. It never used to be like this. In fact, for thousands of years Vidarbha was renowned for its fertility. If we look back, we can see that region has played an important role in the history of India itself. "Vidarbha is the land of the pancha kanyas-five virtuous princesses.

"Vidarbha was traditionally a fertile area. The people here harvested grains and raised cattle, using manure for fertiliser and milk. There was no need for tractors, irrigation systems and other advanced farming techniques then. But now the value of grains is reducing on the market, and the land is suffering due to lack of irrigation because no one is investing in it. Actually, this problem began when the people abandoned their traditional forms of agriculture.

Vidarbha's Tragedy Unfolds

MAM also provided saris for widows of farmers

"Under British rule in India, cotton became popular because it gave a good financial return. In 1972 cotton peaked in value. It was so high then it was called "White Gold." The demand became very high. When hybrid seeds were introduced to increase productivity, the natural native seeds were lost. The farmers did not save them from year to year as they used to, and anyway native seeds are destroyed by pollination from hybrids. The farmers started using chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The hybrid seeds last only one growing season and produce no seeds for the next. Forced to annually purchase seeds and chemicals that they could not afford, the farmers soon found themselves in trouble economically.

"Crops also started failing in general. The ground lost fertility. The practice of maintaining cows for manure was abandoned, crop-rotation ceased, and the water table dropped due to lack of harvesting. Having abandoned their cows for artificial fertilizers, the farmers could not even depend on the dairy products they yield for food. Many began to starve. Previously, under traditional methods, a drought could be withstood, but with mono-cropping and no cows, families perished.

"Multi-national companies introduced hybrids in the late '60s. The companies do something to the seeds so that the farmers have to continue to buy seeds from them; they cannot save seeds anymore. This is the problem, especially for the small farmer.

"Initially the new methods using hybrids, chemical fertilizers and pesticides gave bumper crops, but over time the crop yields have diminished. Furthermore, Nature's helpers were lost. The bees, bacteria, ants, birds... They are all dying. The ecological-balance has been lost. It was a harmful system but no one could escape it. Farmers had to use more hybrids, more pesticides, more fertilizers. They killed their friends in Nature-Nature's helping hands-and now they are killing themselves.

"Now some tribal people are trying to regenerate the region's original, natural seeds. Organic farming is also starting to be supported. The people are growing organic cotton, wheat, sorghum and other grains.

Starting The Community Development Process

"We started the local committee with the help of Ravi Marshetwar, a local social worker. Together we met local people and government leaders. I visited five districts in Vidarbha, and went to some very remote places.

Local people took me to schools where I spoke to children and teachers and principals. I visited the homes of families at risk, and those where the father had already committed suicide. The local people know the families who really need help. In this way we started gathering them.

"I told the people about Amma's Vidyamritam Project. Following Amma's instructions, we started by helping the people in small ways-giving saris to widows, giving a bike to a young lad so he could get to school....

"Finally, when I returned to Amritapuri, I brought 75 children with me for Amma's birthday celebration. These children normally never go further than 10 kms down the road-even their teachers and parents were surprised. Six of them came too! We came by train. The people of Washim said, 'How is it possible?' Everyone was so surprised that I, a virtual stranger, could take these children all the way to Amritapuri, and how they were so ready to come with me!"

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Farmer Relief Project is announced

Farmer Relief Project expands

About Farmer Relief Project

Farmer Relief Project - updates

Amma's Visit to Washim, Vidharbha

Washim People Visit Amritapuri

A Visit of Farmers And Their Wives From Washim To Amritapuri