*** CICR Nagpur same Hall and two meeting in last seven
days ,one chaired by Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna
Vikhe-Patil and other by Maharashtra Government’s appointed
committee on allowing field tests to genetically modified (GM) crops, headed by
Dr Anil Kakodkar but first one admit failure of GM seed and asked officers to
promote traditional non-GM seed but
second one review the proposal to grant permission GM seed test in Maharashtra
and both the meeting all BaBus gives
green signal but in second meeting the started with fix action plan prepared by
MNCs manufacturing GM seed and there was clear directive from PMO ,Union Agri.Ministery
and Maharashtra chief minister to go ahead ***
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister
Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil's last week
admission that the genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton had brought no benefits
to the farmers but on the other hand seed companies were thriving on it and The
state government has decided to promote organic lifestyle and has promised
various measures to promote the use of genetically non-modified seeds,
providing cold storage, packaging, processing units besides introducing organic
produce outlets for famers,
though the state government was
mulling over promotion of organic farms since 2003, it formally adopted the
policy in 2013 and now intends bring in as much of land under the organic
farming as possible but this announcement of Agriculture minister in not in
line with hidden agenda of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to give
entry to US base MNCs in GM Food
crop as Maharashtra Government’s appointed
committee on allowing field tests to genetically modified (GM) crops, headed by
eminent nuclear scientist and Dr Anil Kakodkar, held detailed deliberations on
the issue in the premises of CICR on Wednesday. Hence what is state policy
regarding GM seed as Bt cotton has been
the only GM crop allowed in India, but private corporations have been lobbying
to bring in GM rice, tomato, wheat and so on. Bt Brinal was attempted too, but
the then environment minister Jairam Ramesh had stopped the release in 2010. In
August 2012, technical experts appointed by the Supreme Court recommended a
10-year moratorium on all field trials of GM food crops. But, Kakodkar
committee may throw the doors open for new GM seeds, the duel policy stand of
Maharashtra Govt. has crated doubts
about Agri. Ministry stand to make ‘ Mah. State organic farming state ’
,Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS) convener Kishore Tiwari urged CM to come
clean on this issue .
‘There are many serious issues of
GM seed using in food crop as more than 80 crore population who are vegetarian
are having objection more over in line with majority of developed countries
in Indian too more than 10 states already rejected the proposal of any
GM seed test in their field hence Maharashtra which is already farm suicide
graveyard and first approved GM seed Bt.cotton seed has major role in these
cotton farmers’ suicides hence we are
opposing BRAI and Kakodkar committee as
GEAC is likely to be bypassed so as environment Clarence of GOI hemce this
appeal’Tiwari added.
Last Year parliamentary standing panel visited vidarbha released a report admitting massive failure of
Bt cotton after they verified truth and studied 14,862 documents, and evidence from 50 organizations
working in food safety and environmental issues whereas Maharashtra is classic
example where Around 5 million cotton farmer have adopted GM Bt.cotton seed for cotton cultivation that is
done in 41 lakh hectares and Now, the
state government has finally admitted that Bt cotton is adding to farmers'
distress even as 95% of them are using the GM seeds but if Maharashtra CM and Union
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has already decided to push GM
seed in food crop, there no way to stop the onslaught of GM seeds
even when BRAI bill is till pending in parliament, Tiwari added.
"Till around 1970, Vidarbha
farmers cultivated cotton using seeds from their own plants. With the
introduction of hybrid seeds, the yields increased but so did the need for
costly fertilizers and insecticides. Agriculturists have also blamed the
restrictions and royalties placed on GM seeds by multinational companies for
the spurt in suicides. Unlike traditional seeds, GM seeds are non-renewable and
must be purchased every year. Today, they dominate the market," said
Tiwari.
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