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Threat of agro-terrorism is real


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sp.al.meyyappan
India faces Agro-terrorism
by sp.al.meyyappan on Sep 02, 2005 08:16 AM

When doing my UG in Agri, I remember one of my Pathology Lecturers say that Pak deliberately practices what is today known as AgroTerrorism. Punjab supplies wheat & rice to the whole of India. A greater section of Punjab is with Pakistan. Wheat can also be grown there. Pak doesn't control diseases in their wheat crops, knowing very well that the fungal spores will be blown over to India & infect India's wheat belts. Pak doesn't control spread of locusts too (insects similar to grasshoppers, but can wipe out any vegetation in their path by feeding. They attack in 100s of millions of insects. U should have viewed them on NGC). So to control locust spred from Pak to India, a belt of no vegetation is maintained several km thick on the Indian side of the border. India also maintains a seperate body to look into the spread of locusts from the Pak to India. Officers also look into the spread of fungal spores from Pak to India. Whatever critics may say of the Indian govt, we should at least thank our govt that they maintain such kind of vigil. Otherwise we would have been doomed long ago. Our alert officers keep us safe, be it in the army or agri division. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan! Jai Hind!

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A Bhat
Maybe not so real
by A Bhat on Aug 31, 2005 02:34 AM

I seriously doubt Islamic extremists will resort to agro terrorism. Their acts are more of a sensational nature, intending to cause a sensation and deliver a message, rather than resort to agro terrorism which although deadly is rather a low-key affair and will virtually turn their supporters against them. Bombs and missiles and hatred will continue to be their weapons as of now. We should be investing more resources in making them fight amongst each other, rather than trying to protect ourselves from every possible imaginative form of threat.

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Raj
Re: Threat of agro-terrorism is real
by Raj on Aug 31, 2005 02:01 AM

Dear Columnist:

I may really sound naive. But, I am gonna let out my mind here.

Do you think, discussing these kind of issues in public columns may infact be "giving" out an idea to the terrotists??

Again, I am well aware that I may sound naive and un-informed. But, its same like movie industry...movies claim that they pick up ideas from real world...However, there are many real world criminal who pick up plots and ideas from movies.

Same way...do you think that there might be some "unsophisticated" terrorists out there...who might pick up ideas from articles like this.

Just something that came to my mind.....

RaJ.

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Aneesh
Agriculture - always a neglected sector
by Aneesh on Aug 31, 2005 12:06 AM

Though India is an agricultural country, with more than 70% Indian depends on this, this sector is always neglected as far as planning and execution is concerned. In Northwest India, we have seen how water table is going down in some parts and going up in others and compelling the growers to change their cropping pattern. Scientific knowledge to deal with these problems is there but is seldom used in field. Most of the time we start thinking about the solution when problem comes to our door.

Governments from time to time helps the farmers to some extent, when something happen. But the reality is that if we plan ahead of the time and avoid these things happen, we can save lot of farmer's money and government's revenues getting lost. After all if government is paying something, it is again coming out of fellow Indians.

Agro-terrorism is going to be a new problem, will affect average Indian not only growers. Though farmers are already in a debt trap, they will fall more down and results in more suicides. Food and vegetable will become more costly and polluted will result in more hungry childern, ill people. So there is urgent need to identify problem and have solutions ready.

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S Rajeshwaran
Threat of agro-terrorism is real
by S Rajeshwaran on Aug 30, 2005 08:16 PM

I fully agree with your view points.

Epidemiology in the dairy sector is in its infancy and not taken seriously by the powers that be.

Recent outbreaks of Anthrax (one of the most dreaded diseases in the developed world, apart from Botulism from food poisoning) in AP and TN have been taken very lightly by the concerned State Governments as well as the Central Govt.

Outbreaks such as this are treated on "War footing" with the army literally taking over the administrative control of the area within 24 hours of reporting.

I do hope your article wakes up the powers before a calamity such as the one u mention occurs.

The worst affected wd be the poor people with about 1.5 animals!

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sudarshan
comments
by sudarshan on Aug 30, 2005 05:55 PM

i think india is facing agro-terrorism from long time back.adultering foodstuffs,babyfoods & medicines are common incidents if we follow daily newspapers.
in fact the comment made by an ex central minister on asking to comment on intoxications found in a mnc brand soft drink clearly suggests how far agro-terrorists have successfully penetrated their agents.

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