Maharashtra cotton farmers today hails the decision of The Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on the recommendation of the Genetically Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), a statutory authority set up under the Environment Protection Act of 1986 that Bt.Brinjal should be commercialized to put the on hold for next two years until independent studies established its safety as “a wise and appropriate decision, farmers' pressure group Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) President Kishore Tiwari informed in the press note today.
Earlier in June 2005 bt.cotton was allowed for commercial production resulting of more than 10,000 farm suicides of cotton farmers , it was the decision taken in hurry and without looking at the problems of the public health and environment safety and procedure adopted that time by GEAC was not a credible, effective and transparent system .
As per the observation of Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh ,the role of a foreign gene, cry1Ac, derived from a soil bacterium, bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has open door of the public discussion where the oil extracted from bt.cotton seed is safe for human safety or it’s residue in the oil is causing serious health problems to innocent public as while holding the commercial trials of bt.brinjal on hold ministry of environment has given serious consideration to the enviromentalsit say that the gene synthesises a protein toxic to the fruit and shoot borer (FSB), a destructive insect pest. Its incorporation into brinjal is said to confer the crop `built-in' resistance to FSB, reducing reliance on spraying pesticides same claim was made for Bt. cotton but now it’s official that basic claims of Mahyco’s monsantro bt.cotton failed as it has increased the use of pesticide in vidarbha regions moreover the net yields has be drop down even the cultivating are has been al most double in last three years, hence it’s evolution is must in the context of recent development, tiwari added.
“The issue of public health and environment is also vild for bt.cotton seed as here American MNC Monsanto is using same a foreign gene, cry1Ac, derived from a soil bacterium, bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and now on the same ground gene, cry1Ac, derived from a soil bacterium, bacillus thuringiensis has been questioned hence we demand it’s commercial use on hold for bt.cotton too until the final decision is taken." said Tiwari
"Massive failure of cotton crop in 34 lakh hectares in cotton growing region of maharashtra had received very sharp reaction from farmers of vidarbha and marathawada region ,urging the union Govt. review their decision of giving commercial trials to American cotton seed giant Monsanto and to impose the complete ban of killer Bt. cotton seed. They also demand that the government should arrange to seek compensation to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore from Bt cotton seed manufacturers and insecticide, pesticide makers for the losses suffered by farmers,. farmers' pressure group Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti(VJAS) President Kishore Tiwari added.
"In the state government-sponsored campaign, over 24 lakh farmers took to genetically modified seeds in 34 lakh hectares. The campaign was led by its own seed company Mahyco which is among those that have obtained license from a multinational company for its Bt cotton seeds. The gullible farmers fell prey to the advertisement blitz by the seed companies which claimed that Bt seeds would give bumper crops even in rain fed areas like Vidarbha where irrigation facilities are abysmally low,''president Kishore Tiwari alleged .
"While the agriculture department advisory clearly states that Bt seeds cultivation could be risky in rain fed areas, the government did little to discourage farmers who gave up food crops like jowar and maize and shifted to Bt cotton growing as a cash crop and this has collapsed the economy of the region and is main reason of despair and distress leading thousands of cotton farmers suicides , said Tiwari.
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