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Nod for GM crop trials raises eyebrows
The State government’s decision to give its nod for field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops does not seem to have gone well with agricultural experts and social activists.
Hyderabad: The State government’s decision to give its nod for field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops does not seem to have gone well with agricultural experts and social activists. The government has issued GO 496 on the day of the national seed conference on October 27, according No Objection Certificate (NOC) to constitute a new committee for the conduct of GM crops field trials.
However, experts are of the opinion that it could be a coincidence or a well-planned agenda to help seed companies out of the way. According to the GO, a No Objection Certificate was issued to constitute a new committee for the conduct of GM crops field trials, which activists term, is akin to going four steps backward.
Farmer organisations in the State are opposing the government’s move. G V Ramanjaneyulu of Centre for Sustainable Agriculture says, “The technology of genetically modified crops is unpredictable, imprecise and irreversible.
At a time when the resistance to GM crops is gaining ground across the world with 28 European Union countries disallowing GM crops to be cultivated, India, Telangana in particular is allowing the practice.”
The last time field trials were held was in 2011-12. With farmer organisations opposing the move, no trial was held in 2013-14. In 2015, Mahyco-Monsanto wanted to do field trial of Herbicide-Tolerant Maize in Andhra Pradesh but the AP government raised objections.
Kiran Vissa, State committee member of Rythu Swarajya Vedika says, “The regulation of GM crops in India is weak. If the government is confident of the bio-safety of GM crops, what stops them from strengthening the regulatory system?” Food Sovereignty Alliance condemned the Telangana government’s action, stating that it would strengthen the corporate control over agriculture and food production and result in an irreversible impact on the ecological integrity of natural systems.
Some of the field trials approved earlier are GM sorghum by Directorate of Sorghum Research in 2011-12, GM maize by Mahyco in Karimnagar and Warangal, GM rice by Bayer at Patancheru, GM rice by DuPont in Medak district, Herbicide0tolerant cotton seed production in trials in Kurnool and West Godavari districts. The lack of a regulatory system is a major cause of worry, says Ramanjaneyulu. He states that an RTI enquiry shows that there has been post-trial monitoring of only one in 138 field trials.
While majority of the State governments in India have not given consent to GM crop field trials, the State government has issued an NOC for the constitution of a new committee in Telangana, following the lines of Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Karnataka. Sungro, a subsidiary of Mahyco claimed that field trials of GM chickpea are going on in Andhra Pradesh in an undisclosed location.
By T P Venu
