Farmer leaders from 18 states resolve to oppose GM crops

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 22

For 22 years, farmers have blocked the entry of genetically modified (GM) crops in the country and they say they will continue to oppose it tooth and nail in future too. Such crop varieties were unsafe and unwanted by farmers, they said.

As 90 farmer leaders from 18 states converged here for a national conclave on genetically modified crops and its effects on environment, trade of goods, agricultural diversity and human and animal health, they were unanimous in their opposition to such crops.

A resolution to this effect was signed by all leaders after the conclave. It would be given to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav. The Supreme Court had recently asked the ministry to evolve a national policy on GM crops.

“See how the Bt cotton crop has failed. They said GM seeds would do away the need to use insecticides and the crops would not be susceptible to mealybug, whitefly and pink bollworm attacks. In reality, the use of insecticides has increased manifold as insect attacks are common, so much so that it has made cotton cultivation economically unviable,” said Kapil Shah, a farmer leader from Gujarat.

Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the conclave, he said 91 per cent of the area under GM crops was in the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India (only Bt Virgin is allowed here). The other four countries use GM soybean, canola and maize.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also spoke about the failure of Bt cotton and how even domestic animals avoid going to Bt cotton fields, sensing high chemicals, besides its overall impact on biological cycle. He advocated the need for taking to organic farming.

Agriculture expert Devinder Sharma said farmer leaders from across the country were unanimous in their opinion that GM crops would not be allowed here and that unanimity among farmers was encouraging. “GM crops affect environment, livelihood of farmers and humans and animal health,” he said.

BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni said though attempts were made to surreptitiously conduct field trials of GM crops, but farmers in Haryana destroyed those crops.

Farmer leaders Kavita Kuruganti and KT Gangadhar said the present government should hold consultations with all stakeholders before finalising a national policy on GM crops. “In fact, we need is a biosafety policy, not a policy on GM crops. In 2009, public consultations were held by the then Congress government and the introduction of Bt brinjal crop was stalled,” they said.