ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture) is a large, nation-wide informal network of more than 400 organisations drawn from 20 states of India, that have come together in 2010 to organise a Kisan Swaraj Yatra, a nation-wide mobilisation to draw attention to issues pertaining to our FOOD, FARMERS, FREEDOM. The network consists of farmers’ organisations, consumer groups, women’s organisations, environmental organisations, individual citizens and experts who are committed to the cause of sustainable and viable farm livelihoods in rural India and thereby, safe, nutritious, diverse and adequate food for all Indians. From the dialogues that emerged during the Kisan Swaraj Yatra and subsequent work, ASHA articulates a 4-pillared Kisan Swaraj Neeti and calls on governments to adopt the same. This policy articulation provides a framework for a forward-looking agricultural policy approach for India. The four pillars of Kisan Swaraj are income security for farmers; ecological sustainability of agriculture; people’s control over agricultural resources like land, water and seed; and access to safe, healthy, sufficient food for all.

Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) congratulated Mr Sharad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister for his statement in the Parliament on shifting subsidies from chemical to organic fertilizers. The Alliance also urged the minister to adopt farmer-centric, community-based models while shifting subsidies from chemical to organic. ASHA, an alliance which stands for food, farmers and [...]

Ahmedabad/New Delhi, 26th April 2012: The Gujarat government’s cabinet decision yesterday to withdraw controversial American MNC Monsanto’s proprietary seed from ongoing government projects was welcomed by Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) and Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA). BKS state President Maganbhai Patel, Kapil Shah of Jatan and Prabhakar Kelkar, National President of BKS organized [...]

A rapid appraisal of Project Sunshine in Gujarat, organised by ASHA, came up with its report recently. The main conclusions of the team which took up the rapid appraisal include: 1. Tribals prefer desi corn for their food consumption purposes while hybrid corn is less preferred; any government projects promoting hybrid corn should keep this [...]

ASHA believes that Indian Agriculture can be revived and farm livelihoods improved if the government guarantees income security for all rural households, ensures environmental sustainability in our farming, protects and upholds the rights of farming communities over productive resources like Land and Seed and guarantees adequate, safe, nutritious and diverse food for all Indians. Towards [...]

We want and ask for Debt-Free, Poison-Free, Integrated, Self-Reliant, Empowering Agriculture. We dream of building a Naya Aasmaan (a New Sky), Nayee Dharti (New Earth) and Nayaa Bhaarat (New India). The new Revolution should achieve these, keeping Adivasi, Women, Smallholder, Ecological Farmers at the Centre. This new Revolution should focus not just on the current [...]

WHO’S BENEFITING FROM PROPRIETARY HYBRID MAIZE PROMOTION IN RAJASTHAN, ASK CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS & FARMERS’ LEADERS   Another controversial seed-based project favoring big corporations is emerging in Rajasthan, after the recent controversy around MoUs with seven seed companies by the state government which led to a scrapping of the agreements due to civil society pressure. [...]

A 3-day Farmers’ Jury on Future of Agricultural Development & Improvement of Livelihoods in Eastern India, in the context of “Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India” Venue- Adivasi Exhibition Ground, Unit-1, Bhubaneswar, Odisha   JURY MEMBERS’ PROFILES   JHARKHAND   Kaushalya Devi (38 years), SHG leader, President of District Dairy Board, from Dhanwe Purana village, [...]

Criticising the Union Government’s “one-size-fits-all” approach to Green Revolution in Eastern India, which emphasizes the promotion of wheat and rice, and that too (proprietary) hybrid rice, a Fact Finding Team of ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture) asked for the budgets for this to be recast immediately, to support sustainable agriculture initiatives based on [...]

Agriculture is the foundation of the rural economy which supports nearly 70% of our population and the basis of food security for the entire nation and its citizens. At this juncture, India is in a precarious situation both in terms of the economic condition of the farming community, especially the small and marginal farmers, tenant [...]

Representatives of major farmers’ organisations who participated in a consultation with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail said on Saturday that they were “opposed” to the entry of foreign players in the domestic sector. They charged the government with “misquoting” them in the media. In [...]