Questions Linger Over Integrity Of Farmers Bodies Demanding GM-Crop Commercialisation 

New Delhi: An anti-GM crop body on Thursday alleged that a consortium of seven farmers' bodies which has demanded commercialisation of genetically-modified (GM) crops, has a dubious background and that one of them was even a front organisation for the agro-chemical industry.

Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) said it is strange that these organisations are asking specifically for GM-based hybrids in the name of farmers without any proof that they have higher yields than CMS-based hybrids.

One of the organisations appears to have been a front organisation for the agro-chemical industry in promoting chemicals in the past and this in itself could be read as an indication of the real intent of GM crop developers and the agri-chemical industry of promoting the use of pesticides in the form of herbicides, Kuruganti said.

Anti-GM activists, including ASHA, have been opposing the approval for GM Mustard and have upped the ante against the unscientific appraisal process. It is strange that these organisations are asking specifically for GM-based hybrids in the name of farmers because there is no proof that GM-based hybrids are higher- yielding than CMS-based hybrids.

These organisations should ask for proof for how GM- based hybrids are better, since GM mustard has not been tested against any other hybrids.

These organisations should ask for proof for how GM- based hybrids are better, since GM mustard has not been tested against any other hybrids, Kuruganti said.

Rashtriya Progressive Kisan Association, a consortium of seven farmer organisations, has written to the Prime Minister demanding commercialisation of genetically modified (GM) mustard at the earliest.

The consortium favoured quick roll out of GM Mustard for farmers in arid and semi-arid regions and asked stakeholders to stop politicising the commercialisation of GM Mustard, which is currently under review with the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

PTI