Origin of 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 9^th 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. KCBC selected His Grace Mar George Valiamattam as the patron of this organization

                His Grace Mar George Valiamattam

                Archbishop’s House, PB. No. 70

                Thalassery – 670 101

                Tel: 0490 – 2325517, 2341058, 2344977(P)

                Fax: 0490 – 2341412

                E – mail: diocese @ eth.net

• Central Committee

    Chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and members are elected from the state general body and the nominated members from the dioceses.

          Chairman: Rev. Fr. Joseph Ottaplackal

          Mob: 9447370790

          General Secretary: Rev. Fr. Antony Kozhuvanal

          Mob: 9447244123

• 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

• Create awareness among the farmers that they are part of the State.
• Save the farmers from exploitation, bribery and injustice.
• Teach them new types of farming or agricultural methods. 
• Organized cultivation.
• Mutual help.
• Hard work and simple life.
• Start small-scale industries.

INFAM in the Archdiocese of Tellicherry

                Tellicherry Archdiocese includes two districts of Kerala - Kannur and Kasargod.

Leaders

• Director: Rev. Fr. Joseph Ottaplackal, Sandesa Bhavan, Thalassery-1, PB. No. 70

Mob: 9447370790, Ph: 0490 2321010

• Assi. Director: Rev. Fr. Joseph Kavanady, Vilakkannur, Mob: 9447647530
• Kannur District President: Mr. Scaria Nellemkuzhy, Chundaparamba

      Mob: 0460 2265629

• Secretary: Mr. Sunny Pulluvelil, Chapparappadavu, Ph: 0460 2270099
• Kasargod District President: Mr. Thomas T. Thayyil, Panathady

Ph: 0467 2228311

• Secretary: Mr. George Porunnedom, Malome, Ph: 0467 2247410
• Self-help groups coordinator: Mr. Baby Alavikkunnel, Ph: 0460 2211322

General Information

• Members                                               : -  6000
• Self-help Groups                                   : -    380
• Resource Persons                                  : -      25
• Shops                                                    : -      10
• Eco-shop                                              : -       01
• Compost Manufacturing Units               : -       05
• Nursery                                                 : -       01
• Organic Certified Farmers                      : -     450

 Activities

Awareness – building activities

• 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.
• 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 districts of Kannur and Kasargod in which farmers participated in large number. About 50000 farmers gathered together at the Kannur convention and about 30000 in the one held at Kasargod.

Other activities

• INFAM shops run by farmers.
• Self – help groups of men and women.

We have in the diocese 380 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.

• Cashew – nut Collection.

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.

• INFAM promotes eco – friendly farming habits, bio – diversity and diffusion of folk wisdom related to farming.

• We take care to mobilize and co-ordinate Governmental helps to the benefit of farmers and to provide them with legal advice and assistance.

• We also provide the farmers with region-specific advice regarding seeds, manure, and crops and about the marketing of agricultural produce.

• We encourage the farmers to adopt the best farming techniques from various parts of the world and popularize natural food and medicine.

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.