Sunday, May 10, 2009

Everyone should respond to Farm Crisis

Everyone should respond

to Farm Crisis



It’s everyone’s responsibility to act towards finding solution to current farming crisis, said veteran journalist Shree Padre. He was speaking on the occasion of releasing books related farm and rural journalism at Dharwad on 2nd May 2009.

Dharwad:  It’s everyone’s responsibility to act towards finding solution to current farming crisis, said veteran journalist Shree Padre. He was speaking on the occasion of releasing books related farm and rural journalism. He felt that farming has lost its charm in the country due to many reasons; farmers are treated as second level citizens.  All sectors of the society should be made responsible for sustaining farming and make sustainable farming possible, he opined.

Media should play a crucial role in giving hopes to the farming community which is in a desperate situation. For this, media should explore rural areas and highlight examples of sustainable farmers, which pass on hopes to farmers. Journalists can give justice to their writing only when they have comprehensive knowledge about village life, Shree Padre said.

Speaking on the occasion, media critic G.N. Mohan said, in spite of the leap forward in the media sector, its basic values have been lost due to many reasons including globalization and unhealthy competition. Media has rarely discussed causes for the helplessness of farmers. We don’t even see balanced reports on farm related issues, he felt. Information technology has expanded horizons of the media but much has to be done to improve its content, he reviewed.

Naveen Jha, Director, Deshpande Centre for Social Entrepreneurship addressed the gathering and said that, “These books are unique as they give importance to the subject, does not focus on the writers.”  

Five books related to farm and rural journalism – ‘Guddada melina ekavyakti sainya’ authored by Shree Padre, ‘Jalanemmadiyatta Kakola – Teredabavi marupooranada yashogathe’ written by Poornaprajna Belur, ‘Oota Bharjari Hotte Khali’ by Shivaram Pailoor, ‘Kalluhasina mele hasiru hodike’ written by Anandateertha Pyati along with a collection of farmer friendly innovations published in Adike Patrike were released on the occasion. All the books are published by Centre for Agricultural Media.                                                                

Water activists Chanabasappa Shivappa Kombali, Mahalinga Naika, sustainable farmer Shekhamma Hucchappa Vani, Deshpande Foundation’s Naveen Jha, authors of the book Shivaram Pailoor, Anandateertha Pyati and Poornaprajna Belur graced occasion.

Anitha Pailoor welcomed and gave an overview of the books. Dr. Sanjeev Kulakarni, President of Atmadeepa –Organisation for Health and Environment proposed vote of thanks.  Water conservationist Dr. Mallanna Nagaral, Head of K.H. Patil Krishi Vijnana Kendra Dr. L.G. Hiregoudra, WALMI Director Prof. S.T. Patil, Organic farmer-writer Irayya Killedar and Dr. Virupaksha Badiger were also present on the occasion.

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