Highlights of Satyameva Jayate - Organic Food and Farming
1) Pesticides are not medicine or growth formula that doubles the quantity of the crop, it is POISON.
2) Fruits and Vegetables that are fresh are not necessarily nutritionally high. They need to be free of chemicals to be able to retain their nutritional value.
3) Research on a segment of lactating mothers showed that the chemicals that she has consumed over the years are transferred to the child in the form of breast milk and the chemical endosulfan is almost 400%-800% higher than usual in it.
4) Endosulfan Horror - An area in Kerala was sprayed with the this chemical from helicopter the result of which is deformities in children, miscarriages (10 times higher than usual), death at birth and other chronic ailments. Over 5000 people in the region and a large number of cattle and animals have been affected.
5) Farmers do not eat what they grow for commercial purpose. Almost every farmer is aware of the ill-effects of chemicals and pesticides and does not grow the crop with the same means for their family.
6) Unknowingly, we take in almost 400 times higher the amount of chemicals that can be considered normal.
7) Folic Acid that leads to the development of brain in fetus, cannot function because of the chemicals. Hence, babies in Rajasthan have been born with unthinkable deformities and without a brain itself.
8) Chemicals ARE CARCINOGENIC.
9) Green Revolution brought about more harm than bad. Not adapting Green Revolution would have probably led to slightly lesser growth but people would have been much more healthier now.
10) The root problem is not the pests. The micro-nutrients found in the soil are naturally blessed to fight the few pests. Spraying of pesticides not only kills the micro-nutrients but also makes the crop potentially dangerous to consume. Micro-nutrients in soil are far lesser harmful than the chemicals.
11) If the issue is to kill the pests, that can be easily done by various other simpler methods, like sticky paper, cloth trap etc. These are safe, effective and yet cost nothing more than Rs. 15 each.
12) Pesticides and other chemicals involve huge costs to farmers and in turn lead to suicides due to loan traps.
13) If subsidies are given for chemical farming, that will grow, but if the same subsidies are given for organic farming, not only will more farmers adapt it, the cost of produce will also reduce.
14) The more the consumers opt for organic, that much more higher will the produce be. The farmers will be forced to meet the demands.
15) Its a myth that Organic methods lead to lesser growth of crops.
16) Washing, soaking and peeling a vegetable are very basic and temporary solutions. Unfortunately, the chemicals have been deep-rooted and are present in the entire vegetable. Only going ORGANIC is the permanent solution.
17) Interaction with local producers in Farmers Market will not only encourage the peasants to opt for organic methods, but will also give them a thorough understanding of what is liked and and needed by the consumers.
18) Sikkim has evolved itself as THE ORGANIC STATE, other regions should emulate the same system.
19) Consumers job - opt for Organic
20) Hail Aamir Khan and Satyameva Jayate!