Farmers miffed about Govt GM food policy

 

KOCHI: The ties between the country’s farming community and the BJP-led Union Government deteriorated further with farmers questioning the hypocrisy in allowing the unregulated import of certain Genetically Modified foods from the USA while not permitting the cultivation of GM foods developed by India’s own ‘desi’ scientists.

P Chengal Reddy, chief advisor to the Consortium of Indian Farmers Association (CIFA) , an umbrella organisation of all farmers’ associations in the country lambasted the BJP Government at the Centre for not doing anything for the farmers while dancing to the tunes of edible oil cartel.

“Not only that. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised that the petrol and diesel imported from West Asia would be blended with 50 per cent ethanol so that it would be a win-win situation for all stake holders. But the percentage of ethanol being blended with fossil fuels is limited to less than 20 per cent even as the price of fuels is shooting up by the day,” said Reddy, who was quite liberal in praising the BJP Government at the Centre.

Speaking to The Pioneer, the farmers’ leader said India is importing Genetically Modified foods like soya oil and canola oil.

“These oil are imported from Brazil, Argentina, US and Canada. The country needs Rs 80,000 crore worth edible oil every year. Out of this requirement, 60 per cent is imported from Malaysia while the rest is from the American countries,” he said. Reddy also pointed out that the ready to cook food sold through malls and super bazars are all genetically modified foods.

“The drought tolerant groundnut developed by ICRISAT, the pest resistant Brinjal developed by Indian scientists and the Mustard eveloped by Dr Deepak Pental are awaiting clearance even years after they were developed. The 1.5 million Indian population in USA has been consuming the Genetically Modified foods for the last two decades and they have not registered any complaints. But the denial of licence or approval to GM foods developed in India remains a mystery,” said Reddy.

His stance was supported by Dr CKK Nair, former head, food technology division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, a pioneer in India’s G M Food development science. “There is no justification for holding back the approval of genetically modified food despite them getting the seal of approval from the world of medical fraternity,” said Dr Nair.

Reddy said the farmers in the country were fed up with the BJP Government which he alleged was controlled by certain petroleum refinery groups and industrialists.

“Private investment and technology are allowed in the sensitive defence sector while the farming sector which feeds the billions are denied the same. The space technology is used for defence purposes but not for assessing agriculture crop losses,” he said. (Agencies)