Caravan for seed and food Sovereignty -2014
The formation of an island wide
Seed Caravan for Food Sovereignty campaign stems from the need to address core
issues related to the food system in Sri Lanka around the themes of Justice,
Equality and Regeneration. As a consecutive step of the Seed Rights Campaign
which started successfully in June, 2014 the Seed Caravan for Food Sovereignty
campaign conducted around the aim of mobilizing farmers, consumers and civil
society groups for a fair and sustainable food system in Sri Lanka.
The campaign scheduled in
line with the commemoration of World Food Week. The campaign was
spearheaded by the Movement for the Protection of Seed Rights which will be led
by MONLAR with farmers, women, plantation workers, fisheries
and other civil society organizations based across the country (October 11th – 16th). The journey
of the caravans started from Murukundi in the Northern Province in the
island and concluded in Colombo after covering a total 25 cities.In the same time small scale fisheries and farmers from Southern continue the parallel caravan from Hambanthota to Colombo covering the other ten cities.They started it at Hambanthota on 14 th October.
Objectives
1. Farmers are the sole owners
of the seeds and food resources for food production. Campaign to ensure it.
2. Influencing policy makers to
develop and implement favorable policies to protect the rights of small scale
farmers, to promote regenerative agricultural practices and to ensure the
sustainable livelihoods
3. Ensure the right of access
to nutritious, adequate, secured and culturally fit foods for all.
During 6 days of the Caravan more than 4000 Farmers, fisheries, labors and
plantation workers from North, South and East joined their hands for a common
struggle for people’s right for their resources and food. They exchanged seeds
among themselves to oppose the proposed seed privatization act.
Awareness programs were held in more than 35 cities on the
importance of promoting Eco-friendly food production systems and the rights of
people to have safe and nutritious food.
Policy proposals formulated by social movements were handed
over to Provincial authorities in around 10 Provincial councils. Participants
held number of protests campaigns against land grabbing, water and seed
privatization and agro chemical industry which causes severe threats to the
health of the people and Eco systems.
The caravan was also a great platform for the people in all
ethnic groups to join for a common struggle on their rights where they opposed
the militarization and corporatization of natural resources which violates
rights of the people for their resources and livelihoods. Northern provincial
council minister of agriculture, minister of education and Tamil communities
from Northern Province participated in the inauguration of Caravan in
Kilinochchi showing solidarity among all ethnic groups against violation of their
rights. Rev. Mahamankawadawa Piyarathena Thero, convener of the National
Movement for Protection of Seeds distributed indigenous seed from south among
the communities in North to mark the solidarity.
On 16th, Caravan joined with trade unions, civil society
organizations and other social movements to mark the World Food Day. They
marched to the Colombo Fort with displaying placards and distributing leaflets.
Set of proposals for agrarian reforms to ensure fair and sustainable food
system, which has been discussed and endorsed during the caravan, has been
submitted to the government after the rally
11 October 2014 At Murukandi Kovil-Killinochchiya
 |
| Shared the traditional seeds among the farmers |
 |
| Plant the tree |
 |
| conducted street drama |
March to Vauniya Town
