All Nepal Peasants’ Federation successfully organized an Interaction program on food sovereignty and right to food on 9^th November, 2010 in Kathmandu Nepal. The event was also sequential to climate change and livelihood crisis. The Program was organized to review the situation of right to food and food sovereignty in the present context of crop failure, climate and enduring food crisis. Addressing the program, ANPFa chairperson Bamdev Gautam, urged the need of Land reform and mainstreaming of agriculture to solve the present crisis of poverty, hunger and landlessness. Carole from Right and Democracy, Canada presented her observation in the program. The auspicious gathering was participated by around 50 representatives from across civil society leaders, Agricultural Research Scientists, high level government officials, Media persons, right to food network, students and youth organizations, Landless and Dalits, peasants and peasants’ organizations.

The program was conducted by Balram Banskota, Deputy General Secretary where as Hari Parajuli, Secretary, ANPFa welcomed the guests. CA member, Sabitra Bhusal and HR activist Shree Ram Adhikari presented their papers from human rights and women perspectives respectively. Program Co-ordinator Dr. Keshab Khadka highlited the program at the beginning with review report of this year activities. Sarada Sudedi, Tresurer ANPFa presented the field report of the current rice failure in far western Nepal. Scientist from National Agriculture Research Centre and TU research centre (RECAST), Youth Peasants leaders, women leaders and student leaders commented on papers.

Mass Demonstration and Rally organized

Addressing the recent huge crop failure in Far Western Nepal ANPFa formed two membered committee to investigate the technicalities and understand case of rice failure. Prem Dangal, General Secretary and Sarada subedhi, Treasurer, ANPFa visited the field in last week of October and collected the data. Mr. Birendra Adhikari was also in the team who made important contribution in the process.

It is revealed from the field study that ECARDS (Environment, Culture, Agriculture, Research Development Society-An NGO) and GTZ distributed the Seed with the assistance of FAO. It was directly sent to the field without proper consultation of the concerned authorities. Report shows that the main reason for the crop failure in Baitadi was climate inadaptability since the seed referred to the low altitude was sent to the hill district. It is also found that local farmers and the officials are not aware of any prior test of the seed in the area. Around 150 metric tons of rice seeds were distributed to innocent farmers and almost 20,000 families are found to be victimized severely due to this blind mistakerice failure. It is important to note that rice is the main crop of Nepal not only the main staple crop but also the major sustaining source of livelihood. Ironically, victimized farmers are mostly landless and marginal peasants who do not own the land but produce crops to sustain their family round the year.

After this revelation, huge rally and mass demonstration program organized at various affected  places of Baitadi and Doti Districts to bring the voice of defaulted farmers in public and pressurize the concern authorities to provide adequate compensation to the victim. Women, children and old age people, all spontaneously joined the rally with the rice plants without ears in their hands. It is worthy to mention that thousands of maize farmers had become victim of maize failure last June/July in the Mid-Terai region. Such repeated crop failures caused in the name of development and helping poor famers has actually worsen the situation and deepen the poverty at mass level.