“Salt Then Seed Now”, a year-long campaign against the genetic engineering in food and farming sector will be launched by a coalition of civil society organisations from August 15.
The campaign would highlight the threats to seed sovereignty presently enjoyed by farmers.
The campaign will highlight the threat and destruction of seed sovereignty and agri-diversity and expose corporate vested interests.
Threat
A “satyagraha” has been organised on August 15 in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue here to mark the launch of the campaign to be started by South Against Genetic Engineering (SAGE) in association with ICRA, Era Organics, Green Foundation, Bhoomi Network, Pristine Organics, Svaraj and Samvada.
“We believe that the introduction of genetically engineered crops not only destroys small farm and its economy, but also poses a serious threat to environment and agro bio-diversity. The contamination of agriculture (by introducing GE crops) will make farmers dependent on private companies,” P. Babu of SAGE told presspersons here on Thursday.
He said that in spite of corporate onslaught and all mechanisations, Indian agriculture was relatively free and farmers were not so dependent on packet seed, and this has to be protected.
