SOC 2080 Lecture : SOC 2080 Mar.27.docx
29 Mar 2012
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Document Summary
Technologies for food production don"t exist in the abstract-we must speak about them in context. In context means an enveloping structure that has social, cultural, economic and political dimensions. The structure is characterized by tension, gross economic inequalities, asymmetries of power, conflict. Conception: public institutions funded by private foundations-ford and rockefeller. Disinterested or self-interested funding?-farm equipment and farm chemicals were major inputs for this. Advocates point to india-from importer to exporter of grain. Initial critiques on scale effects of these technologies-impacts on small farmers-differentiation of farm operators. Impoverishment of majority, enrichment of minority of small capitalist farmers. Punjab of n. india was heavily studied area- wheat, rice, cotton. In last 10 years studies indicate presence mercury, cadmium, chromium, and lead in vegetables bring grown alongside the length of buddha nuhhal river in punjab. Fluoride, mercury, beta-endosulphan and heptachlor [pesticides] were found to be more than permissible limit [mpl] in ground and tap water.
