Author Archives: admin

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The fact that genetically modified (GM) technology is dangerous, irrevocable, unpredictable and uncontainable had mobilised an unprecedented gathering of representatives of 57 unions of farmers, an association of five lakh beekeepers, 150 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and representatives of diverse political parties to declare a ‘Sarson Satyagraha’ on 25 October 2016 in Delhi. They were opposing the attempt to push through genetically modified - GM - mustard by India’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). They all knew that once a GM crop is introduced, the flow of pollen by wind and insects, the mixing of seeds and a variety of corporate marketing strategies would ensure that non-GM mustard is virtually wiped out.

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Among the 260 pesticides in use in India, 56 are carcinogenic and banned in other countries. Of them, 20 clearly harm children causing leukaemia or blood cancer, yet it escapes from the Indian government list of banned pesticides. Statistics indicate that about 50,000 children in Kerala alone are affected by various cancers now, yet the state cannot totally ban pesticides as it falls under the ambit of Central list of the Indian constitution.

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The case of genetically modified (GM) mustard in India has reached the Supreme Court. The government has said it will bow to the court’s eventual ruling. That ruling could green-light GM mustard as first commercial GM food crop. If this goes ahead, there will be wide-ranging implications for Indian food and agriculture.

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Genetically modified mustard, if approved, will be the first such food crop to be commercially released in India. This will open the floodgates for other such crops making India one of the largest users of genetically modified crops in the world in the next 10 to 12 years. Given that its agriculture is largely in the hands of multinational seed and agrochemical companies, India will end up bartering its freedom for the benefit of a few and the misery of the rest.