Thursday, February 7, 2013

CM's stance on GM crops will hit farmers: Tikait


source TOI


LUCKNOW: Bharatiya Kisan Union general secretary Rakesh Tikait on Monday said farmers are shocked and dismayed that chief minister has taken up the cause of the industry promoting genetically modified (GM) crops, which would be highly detrimental to farmers. He demanded that government should not allow field trials of the GM crops and if it does, farmers will burn the trial field.

Addressing media persons, Tikait said introduction of GM technology in farming will not only jeopardise safety of human/animal health but also the environment which is critical for the success of farming in India. The BKU has requested chief minister to promote the solutions which ensures economic sustainability to farmers, ecological sustainability, access and control of productive resources by farmers and non toxic, nutritious and diverse food for all Indians.

National co-convener of coalition for GM-free India, Pankaj Bhushan said "Given the socio economic realities and lack of proper regulatory system in the country, it has been highlighted by credible organisations and individuals time and again that GM crops is not the right way forward for sustainable development of our farming and farmers. At the same time it has been shown that food security in India is more importantly an issue of distribution, purchasing power rather than production alone". So far, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and some other states have already banned the GM seeds and their trials in the states, because agriculture is a state subject, he added.

India BKU warns protest against promotion of GM seeds



Bharatiya Kisan Union today warned to stage a massive agitation against the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government to promote the use of Genetically Modified (GM) seeds. "The use of GM seeds would only benefit the international companies," BKU spokesman Rakesh Singh Tikait told newspersons here. The training, promotion and contract farming of these seeds will hit the rights of the farmers, Mr Tikait alleged. He added that the GM seeds were very harmful that even kill the insects which consume it. "It is a matter of surprise that the earlier Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in the state opposed it and the current SP government under his son Akhilesh Yadav is promoting it," the BKU leader alleged. Moreover, the import of raw sugar has become a worry for formers. Mr Tikait pointed out that the ruling SP had promised to waive-off farmers loan from all the banks in its election manifesto, but now it has waived the loans from only co-operative banks. UNI JAS SW BD1755 NNNN
-- (UNI) -- 04DR38.xml