Farmers Movement Archive

At Singhu border, Seechewal pitches for organic farming

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, January 6“Organic farming is the only way forward for the health of coming generations. It is a necessity for a strengthened farming community,” this was the exhortation of environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, who visited the farm protests at the Singhu border on January 3.Visiting the site with 10 quintals of groundnuts and 200 tarpaulins for farmers braving the rains, the environmentalist appealed to farmers to take to organic cultivation. Addressing farmers at the rain-washed Singhu border, Seechewal while backing the farmers agitation, took up the issues of depleting groundwater, crop diversification and organic farming in the state. While it was Seechewal’s first visit, jathas from his village have been heading to Delhi since the protests started.While a bevy of politicians, activists and leaders have been heading to the site, Seechewal is the first to bring up the issue of organic farming from the main stage of the protests.Raising organic farming decibels at Singhu, Seechewal said, “Punjab farmers have filled the country’s granaries with grains but lost their own water resources. Punjab’s soil and air have been polluted. The state is in the throes of a crippling water crisis. Cancer is spreading rapidly across villages. Only organic farming can ensure we leave a healthy state for our coming generations. The governments will not frame policies which will facilitate farmers to take organic and cooperative farming. Community farming will only succeed when the foundational structure of cooperative farming is strengthened.”He also appealed the Modi-led government to agree to their demands. Addressing farmers’ groups from the main stage at the Singhu border, Seechewal, who is credited with reviving the dying Holy Kali Bein at Sultanpur Lodhi, appealed to farm union leaders to encourage farmers to take up organic farming.Notably, Seechewal had also been aiding farmers with various boats from his dera pressed into service during the Punjab floods. While the environmentalist had also been working with farmers from Shahkot and Lohian belt to strengthen the bandh to prevent floods in future, the bandh’s work was kept on hold ever since the farmers’ agitation started as all cultivators from the region headed to Delhi.At Singhu, Seechewal visited along with followers from his dera bringing essentials which were disbursed among protesting farmers. Notably, the environmentalist had been sending rations and supplies and jathas from his village, including kabaddi players and the village sarpanch had also been setting up langars ever since the stir began.

The Tribune

2021-01-07