In a recent Corporate Watch News Update, a series of interviews and a film by Eshwarappa M and Richard Whittell highlighted the damaging impact of DFID funded 'development' programmes in Madhya Pradesh, in particular the department's promotion of biofuel (or agrofuel) crop jatropha with representative consent from the local populace and at the expense of the viability of their rural communities.
Since the publication of those interviews, Michael Anderson, the head of the DFID's Indian office, has been interviewed by the Indian magazine, Tehelka. In this interview, Mr Anderson, disputes the DFID's role in promoting jatropha and goes further, claiming DFID does “not [push] for cash crops in general”. We thought you might like to read the two responses and judge the nature and aims of DFID's policy for yourselves. Firstly, here is Michael Anderson, as quoted in the recent Tehelka interview: “The M[adhya] P[radesh] Rural Livelihoods Programme is designed to give grant funds through the gram sabhas where the people in villages set up micro plans — based on what they would like to do. The programme provides people with the relevant expertise and support. My understanding is that there is a government programme on jatropha. DFID has not played a part in designing that government programme on jatropha. We are definitely not pushing for jatropha or cash crops in general. If this is happening on the ground then it is entirely contrary to instructions going out from here”. And, this was the DFID's London office’s answer to questions about the same project, focusing on the suitability of encouraging people to grow jatropha on their common land and the DFID's claims that the programme is participatory: “DFID is supporting the Government of Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme (MPRLP). MPRLP works with village assemblies to improve their ability to plan and manage village level funds. Cultivation of jatropha is already practised in the state as a 'living fence' to protect homesteads, orchards or fields, particularly in the tribal areas where MPRLP works. MPRLP is involved in jatropha cultivation where communities have identified land and water conservation needs as a priority. Jatropha plantation is taken up by communities for fencing along field boundaries, to reduce soil erosion, as well as on wasteland which has poor soil cover land which is not being used for cultivation. MPRLP has commissioned work to look at the market potential for jatropha to benefit marginal and poor households through cultivation either on public or private lands. This research will contribute to State Government discussions on its policy in relation to jatropha cultivation in the state, and what issues need to be addressed in order to ensure that poor people benefit.”
Since the publication of those interviews, Michael Anderson, the head of the DFID's Indian office, has been interviewed by the Indian magazine, Tehelka. In this interview, Mr Anderson, disputes the DFID's role in promoting jatropha and goes further, claiming DFID does “not [push] for cash crops in general”. We thought you might like to read the two responses and judge the nature and aims of DFID's policy for yourselves. Firstly, here is Michael Anderson, as quoted in the recent Tehelka interview: “The M[adhya] P[radesh] Rural Livelihoods Programme is designed to give grant funds through the gram sabhas where the people in villages set up micro plans — based on what they would like to do. The programme provides people with the relevant expertise and support. My understanding is that there is a government programme on jatropha. DFID has not played a part in designing that government programme on jatropha. We are definitely not pushing for jatropha or cash crops in general. If this is happening on the ground then it is entirely contrary to instructions going out from here”. And, this was the DFID's London office’s answer to questions about the same project, focusing on the suitability of encouraging people to grow jatropha on their common land and the DFID's claims that the programme is participatory: “DFID is supporting the Government of Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme (MPRLP). MPRLP works with village assemblies to improve their ability to plan and manage village level funds. Cultivation of jatropha is already practised in the state as a 'living fence' to protect homesteads, orchards or fields, particularly in the tribal areas where MPRLP works. MPRLP is involved in jatropha cultivation where communities have identified land and water conservation needs as a priority. Jatropha plantation is taken up by communities for fencing along field boundaries, to reduce soil erosion, as well as on wasteland which has poor soil cover land which is not being used for cultivation. MPRLP has commissioned work to look at the market potential for jatropha to benefit marginal and poor households through cultivation either on public or private lands. This research will contribute to State Government discussions on its policy in relation to jatropha cultivation in the state, and what issues need to be addressed in order to ensure that poor people benefit.”
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