This refers to the article, “Harvest of controversy” (July 29), by Shiv Visvanathan. In his effort to prove his independent analysis on the subject of GM technology, he has shown his inclination towards the section that claims that the technology is bad and detrimental to the environment.
All research and regulatory trials are conducted as per regulatory guidelines, and monitored strictly by the Indian Regulatory Authority-appointed Monitoring and Compliance Committees. Twenty-five Nobel Prize recipients and more than 3,400 prominent scientists have expressed their support for plant biotechnology as a “powerful and safe” way to improve agriculture and the environment. As for farmers losing seed sovereignty to multinationals, all hybrid seeds lose their benefits if replanted, resulting in reduced and erratic yields. New seeds help farmers sustain high yields year on year. In the case of Bt cotton in India, some farmers adopted the technology wholeheartedly because they saw in it a solution to their biggest problem of the pink bollworm.
Yes, it is important to have a debate, but it is also important to note that a lot of money is spent on research both by the public sector and private sector. Long delays will help neither scientists nor farmers.
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GM crops have been developed with improved resistance to extreme weather conditions. Crop varieties with a shorter growth span consume less water and grow faster. Resistance to pests and vulnerable diseases has been embedded in the genetic code. The most important benefit is the increase in productivity and yield. GM crops promise to rid India of malnutrition and hunger.
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Innovations in the field of science and technology aim to improve the life of the common man. But it is impossible to have a technology that is completely flawless. Some of the flaws have been negligible over the past, as their impact on people and the environment is minimal. But it is feared that transgenic crops will disturb the food chain and the ecological balance. These are certainly not negligible effects. An intensive discussion on the issue is welcome, even though it may take a long time to evolve alternative measures. The decision taken by the GEAC should factor in the impact of GM crops on the lives of farmers.
Ashwin Padmanaban,Chennai
It appears that India has not learnt from the faulty adoption of agricultural technologies and policy decisions of the past. GM technology will hit biodiversity and farmers’ autonomy to a great extent. It will drive farmers to multinational companies. Seeds are a national treasure; they cannot be placed in the hands of multinationals in the name of GM technology patents.
Rakesh Kumar Shukla,Gorakhpur
The article has raised a vital question: how do we define safety in the context of GM seeds? Is it only about the security of livelihood of farmers or also the ecosystem? GM varieties must not become part of the food chain unless they are thoroughly tested, debated extensively and analysed by experts, keeping in mind the future of mankind and the earth.
Akash Sharma,Bhopal