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Abp. Most. Rev. Dr. Mar George Valiyamattam
Archbishop's House,
P.B. No. 70, Tellicherry - 670 101, Kerala, India.
Tel: +91 490 - 341058, Fax: +91 490 - 341058
E-mail: diocese@eth.net,
diocetly@sancharnet.in
Rev. Fr. Joseph Ottaplackal (Director)
Infam Central Office, Sandesa
Bhavan Thalassery-670101, Kerala, India.
Phone. +91 0490-2321010, Fax- +91
0490-2341412, Mob: +91 9447370790
E-mail – infamoffice@gmail.com
Origin of the INFAM:
INFAM has its origin in Kerala, a small
state in the Southern part of India. About eighty percent of the
population of Kerala consists of farmers. They depend entirely on
agriculture for their sustenance. Some times the harvest is very poor
due to bad climate, drought or flood. The economic condition of the
farmers is often made worse by the periodic fall in the price of
agricultural products. Besides, in comparison with former times, the
out put from the field is much less owing to the excessive use of
chemical fertilizers, soil erosion etc. The lasting value of certain
traditional methods of farming has been totally ignored. The low out
put from the land and the unsteady price-condition have resulted in an
economic crisis among the farmers and many of them are caught up in
debts beyond their capacity to pay. The political leaders as a whole
showed little concern over this situation and the fact that Government
policy was often adverse to the welfare of the farmers added fuel to
the fire. As long as the farmers remained unorganized, there was no
hope of a solution to their problems.
In this situation some social workers,
Church leaders and farmers’ representatives met together to discuss
the issue and the need for a well-ordered and systematic organization
of farmers was unanimously recognized. Thus on December 9th
2000, a new organization of farmers called “Indian Farmers’ Movement”
(INFAM) came in to being. The membership of INFAM is extended to all
farmers, irrespective of cast, creed or political affiliation. Women
are also fully involved in this movement. The new movement enables the
farmers to improve their agricultural methods, to demand reasonable
prices for their products, and to fight together against injustice,
bribery and exploitation. It promotes also communal harmony and
understanding among the people. Now INFAM is spreading also to other
parts of India.
The Structure of INFAM
Patron
His Grace Mar George Valiamattam, the
Archbishop of Tellicherry. The people unanimously requested that the
patron should be a bishop from Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Conference. So
KCBC selected His Grace Mar George Valiamattam as the patron of this
organization. In his diocese, Tellicherry, ninety percent of the
people are farmers, depending completely on agriculture.
Chairman
Chairman is appointed by
K.C.B.C.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Ottaplackal
General Secretary
Rev. Fr. Antony Kozhuvanal, Mob:
9447244123
Central Committee
Chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and members are elected from the
state general body and the nominated members from the dioceses.
District Committees
President, secretary, cashier and
committee members are elected from the district general body. Each
district has a director to give guidance to the organization.
Panchayath Committees
President, secretary, cashier and
committee members are elected from the panchayath members. Panchayath
also has a director to give guidance to its members.
Aims of the Organization
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Create awareness among the farmers
that they are part of the State.
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Save the farmers from exploitation,
bribery and injustice.
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Teach them new types of farming or
agricultural methods.
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Organized cultivation.
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Mutual help.
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Hard work and simple life.
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Start small-scale industries.
Activities
Awareness – building activities
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Over the years we have conducted
hundreds of seminars and workshops on topics related
to the life of the farmers. The need of organized activities,
organic cultivation, organic certification, new types of
cultivation, marketing, banking system, rights of the farmers,
leadership training, simple life etc are some of the topics dealt
with. As a result the farmers are better aware that they have an
important role to play in the progress of the country. They have an
optimistic approach to agriculture and are enabled better to cope
with its demands.
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To awaken the interest of the public
and the Government in the problems of the farmers, we have organized
a number of conventions in the important centers of the state and
districts in which farmers participated in large number. About 50000
farmers gathered together at the Kannur convention, about 30000 in
the one held at Kasargod and 25000 at Kottayam.
Other activities
They purchase materials directly from
the company and sell them to the public at lower prices without profit
motives.
We have in the Kerala 800 such groups of
gents and ladies. Each group consists of 20 members. Every week they
gather together in a family, discuss their problems and possibilities
of corporate action. They also take small collections and give the
amount as loan to those in need.
INFAM collects nuts from cashew farmers
and sell it to companies where we get better prices. This makes it
possible to avoid intermediaries in the business.
Today INFAM is the biggest farmers’
organization in Kerala. Within a short period it has brought
considerable benefit to the farmer community here. The Government and
the political parties are keeping a close watch over its activities,
because INFAM is fighting for the rights and needs of farmers and the
common man.
Contact :
Infam Central Office, Sandesa Bhavan
Thalassery-670101, Kerala, India.
Phone. +91 0490-2321010, Fax- +91
0490-2341412, Mob: +91 9447370790
E-mail – infamoffice@gmail.com
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