INDIA
Supreme Court -appointed panel take on GM crops evokes mixed reactions
With the recent observation and recommendations made by a Supreme Court-appointed Technical Experts’ Committee on GM crops that there should be moratorium on field trials of genetically-modified crops, Coalition for GM Free India hailed the decision and vowed to intensify the fight against GM crops.
"Based on the examination of the safety dossiers, it is apparent that there are major gaps in the regulatory system. These need to be addressed before issues related to tests can be meaningfully considered. Till such time it would not be advisable to conduct more field trials," the committee said.
Rajesh Krishnan of the coalition said that this recommendation proved that the scientific community was against GM crops.
“The committee has raised four points. Firstly the regulatory system of the country with respect to use of GM crops is inadequate. Secondly, there are enough studies which show that there would be cumulative impact on social, economic conditions of the farmers and unless there is complete assurance they shouldn’t be allowed. Thirdly, these crops would have impact on employment as well and finally India is centre of diversity and it’s a common rule that GM shouldn’t be allowed which would hamper its diversity,” he stated while talking to FnB News.
He added that a vast majority of the farmers and their associations are against GM crops that include Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Kisan Union and Kisan Sabha and some 20 farmers’ associations have written to the SC in this regard.
He alleged that the support for GM crops was driven by the fact that they would prove profitable to the industries not farmers. He informed that the coalition would further intensify its agitation against the GM crops and on August 8 they would be staging a protest against GM crops, Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India and Monsanto.
Bhartiya Kisan Sangh also observed similar sentiments. Prabhakar Kelkar, general secretary of the Sangh, while talking to FnB News said, “Unless the country’s scientific community approves it unanimously, there should be moratorium on trials.”
The Sangh was one of the respondents in SC on the issue. Kelkar said, “We were asked to respond in SC and we opposed the GM crops. India is a biodiverse country. The autonomy of farmers with respect to the seeds is a major contention while we have seen sharp increase in seed prices for some crops of tomato and chilli in recent times.”
He questioned the introduction of BT Brinjal citing numerous varieties and its high production in India. His association is planning to stage a protest in Delhi in the first half of August.
Meanwhile, the supporters of GM crops have termed this recommendation by the committee as uncalled for. Chengal Reddy of the Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Associations has termed the recommendation as ‘totally uncalled for.’ “We want these recommendations to be rejected outright,” he said.
He stated that India had 55% of its agriculture under rainfed area while the loss due to pests and diseases was estimated around Rs 60,000 crore.
“There is no conventional solution to this problem. The only way the situation could be improved is genetically, which has been successful in cotton crops,” he stated. He added, there have been imports of soybean from Brazil, which is a GM crop. There are countries like Australia, some Latin American countries and even the US from where India imports a variety of agri products.
Reddy pointed out that interestingly Indians and Europeans were already eating food, which was produced out of GM seeds. He supported the BRAI and wanted the government to introduce it soon. FNBnews
"Based on the examination of the safety dossiers, it is apparent that there are major gaps in the regulatory system. These need to be addressed before issues related to tests can be meaningfully considered. Till such time it would not be advisable to conduct more field trials," the committee said.
Rajesh Krishnan of the coalition said that this recommendation proved that the scientific community was against GM crops.
“The committee has raised four points. Firstly the regulatory system of the country with respect to use of GM crops is inadequate. Secondly, there are enough studies which show that there would be cumulative impact on social, economic conditions of the farmers and unless there is complete assurance they shouldn’t be allowed. Thirdly, these crops would have impact on employment as well and finally India is centre of diversity and it’s a common rule that GM shouldn’t be allowed which would hamper its diversity,” he stated while talking to FnB News.
He added that a vast majority of the farmers and their associations are against GM crops that include Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Kisan Union and Kisan Sabha and some 20 farmers’ associations have written to the SC in this regard.
He alleged that the support for GM crops was driven by the fact that they would prove profitable to the industries not farmers. He informed that the coalition would further intensify its agitation against the GM crops and on August 8 they would be staging a protest against GM crops, Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India and Monsanto.
Bhartiya Kisan Sangh also observed similar sentiments. Prabhakar Kelkar, general secretary of the Sangh, while talking to FnB News said, “Unless the country’s scientific community approves it unanimously, there should be moratorium on trials.”
The Sangh was one of the respondents in SC on the issue. Kelkar said, “We were asked to respond in SC and we opposed the GM crops. India is a biodiverse country. The autonomy of farmers with respect to the seeds is a major contention while we have seen sharp increase in seed prices for some crops of tomato and chilli in recent times.”
He questioned the introduction of BT Brinjal citing numerous varieties and its high production in India. His association is planning to stage a protest in Delhi in the first half of August.
Meanwhile, the supporters of GM crops have termed this recommendation by the committee as uncalled for. Chengal Reddy of the Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Associations has termed the recommendation as ‘totally uncalled for.’ “We want these recommendations to be rejected outright,” he said.
He stated that India had 55% of its agriculture under rainfed area while the loss due to pests and diseases was estimated around Rs 60,000 crore.
“There is no conventional solution to this problem. The only way the situation could be improved is genetically, which has been successful in cotton crops,” he stated. He added, there have been imports of soybean from Brazil, which is a GM crop. There are countries like Australia, some Latin American countries and even the US from where India imports a variety of agri products.
Reddy pointed out that interestingly Indians and Europeans were already eating food, which was produced out of GM seeds. He supported the BRAI and wanted the government to introduce it soon. FNBnews
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