Reasons to get involved:

The plight of the small and marginal farmers needs attention. A similar situation of the disempowerment of small farmers has occurred in Canada. Maintaining small farms in a context of rapid agro-industrialization and globalization has been difficult here. Little in the way of buffers assists the small farmer in Canada today.

Canadians with an interest in sustainable and just development in South Asia need to recognize the centrality of the land issue to the well being of rural populations there. The padyatra campaign in Canada is a unique opportunity to get informed and involved in this key issue.

Bihar is one of the many focal points for the small arms trade in South Asia. It is one of the poorest states in India. Bihar manufactures and trades in small arms. It has small arms trade links with Nepal. Bihar is enduring tremendous civil unrest, with a breakdown of law and order. There is potential for violence to escalate. This has repercussions for the stability of the South Asian region. Any measures to promote democracy and peace in Bihar, measures that address some of the roots causes of the lawlessness, need therefore to be supported.

Canada's development assistance policy needs to place food security and agriculture more directly on its agenda. Canada is interested in environment issues and basic needs, in the South. It needs therefore to pay due attention to food security and livelihood issues, particularly the plight of poor farmers. Canadians could use the padyatra campaign to lobby their government to give greater emphasis to this important issue in South Asia.

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