Environmentalists have called for stopping all field trials of genetically (GM) modified crops and a wider public debate on the issue.
They welcomed the 492-page report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, headed by CPI(M) member Basudeb Acharia which raised a red flag on GM crops. The 31-member panel took over two-and-a-half years to study the controversial transgenic technology from all angles, including socio-economic, environment and regulatory.
While tabling the report in Parliament August 9, Acharia had said, “The Committee has come to the conclusion that since concerns on the potential and actual impacts of GM crops to our food, farming, health and environment are valid, GM crops are just not the right solution for our country.”
Terming the report as “historic, comprehensive and well-grounded document,” the Coalition for a GM-Free India, said, “It is clear that the Government’s views are uninformed and biased on the matter, and the blind promotion of the technology is unscientific.”
Sridhar Radhakrishnan, Convener of the Coalition, said “This report vindicates the concerns and positions taken by many State Governments, such as Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, which have disallowed GM crops, including field trials (for fear of contamination).”
Kavitha Kuruganti, Member of the Coalition, said the Parliamentary panel report has come at the right time.
“Ignoring the ground reality of the plight of rainfed smallholder farmers in the country, the biotech industry is busy profiteering at their expense” she said.
Calling for a “more mature debate” on GM food crops, Sunita Narain, Director of Centre of Science and Environment, said in a statement that the issue must be considered in terms of India’s ability to regulate new technologies…. “most importantly, the issue of price and the control of new technologies that take agricultural decisions out of the hands of farmers.”
Neha Saigal of Greenpeace India said, “The report exposes the serious gaps in our country's GM regulatory system and the lopsided GM technology promotion policies.” She said the Government should prioritise the welfare of citizens over profit-motivated seed companies.
The environmentalists also said the Government should not ‘blindly push’ the ‘deeply flawed’ Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill.