Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh’s crusade against genetically modified or Bt food will get a political fillip as well. Parliament’s Standing Committee on Agriculture, currently studying the pros and cons of allowing Bt brinjals or other genetically modified foods, is likely to oppose these on various grounds.
The parliamentary panel will give its report during the monsoon session. After holding meetings with various interest groups, the members feel it will not be safe to introduce Bt food at this stage.
“There is no proper study in this country on the impact of Bt food on mankind. We also don’t know about the environmental hazards it might pose,” said a member of the committee.
Recently, Ramesh had virtually trashed an experts’ group report that favoured a limited cultivation of Bt brinjal. Ramesh alleged that the group of six top scientists did not give a “larger scientific view and focused only on findings of a scientist”.
His ministry has imposed a moratorium on the release of Bt brinjal, as there is lack of consensus in the government. Ramesh has also argued that not a single state government wants revocation of the moratorium.
Headed by CPI(M)’s Basudeb Acharia, the agricultural panel is also opposed to the possibility that once Bt brinjal is introduced, it will be a “virtual monopoly” of the seed giant, Monsanto. “China has developed its own Bt seeds. But In India, the farmers will have to depend on Monsanto for the seeds. How can we allow a multinational company to control agriculture in India?” asked a member.
It has also been observed that every year, the farmers would be buying new seeds from the company leading to further consolidation of business for Monsanto.
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The Parliamentary panel has also observed that the European Union (EU) has not allowed Bt food so far. “Only 4-5 countries have introduced Bt food, including the US and Canada. It’s not even a popular concept in the world,” said a member.
The panel may also raise political questions on why there are still farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra — both ruled by the Congress — even after the introduction of Bt cotton in these states.
On Monday, the panel held its fifth meeting and had invited the Swaminathan Research Foundation, National Agriculture, Food and Biotechnology Institute and Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security to give presentation on the issue.
It has also consulted prominent academicians like Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental and will seek opinions of all farmer unions before finalising the report.
Sources in the committee indicate they would probably lay more emphasis on organic food rather than GM food.