Raju Barwale, 56, is the son of Dr B R Barwale, the iconic chairman and founder of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco), the joint venture in which global seeds company Monsanto has a 26 per cent stake. The largest producer of Bt cotton seeds, the company has been at the epicentre of the controversies over Bt Brinjal and the issue of introducing GM food and crops in India. Barwale, who joined the company in 1978 and has worked in it in various capacities, firmly believes that the Indian farmer is capable of making decisions about seed choices and prices and that the protests against GM crops is being generated by vested interests. Excerpts from an interview with Sreelatha Menon and Kanika Datta:
Do you agree with the government’s proposal to end the automatic approval regime for foreign direct investment (FDI) in seed development, animal husbandry and so on? How do you think it will impact indigenous research and development (R&D) on seeds?
The notification to this effect has been clarified by the government and automatic approval regime for FDI in seed development continues.
Does Monsanto have plans to increase its equity in Mahyco or will Mahyco be listed?
Mahyco has the option to be listed on the stock exchange and will make an appropriate decision at the right time.
The issue of introducing Bt Brinjal in India appears to be in limbo. Is Mahyco planning to introduce this technology in other countries?
To the best of our knowledge, this issue is under active consideration of the government and is being reviewed by an expert committee that is likely to meet shortly to decide on the matter. This technology has been licensed to the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh and University of Philippines Los Banos, Philippines till now.
Mahyco is currently developing a genetically modified (GM) wheat variety. Why do this when the brinjal issue hasn’t been sorted out?
Mahyco believes in the ability of GM technology to improve livelihoods and incomes of small and marginal farmers of India. With this belief, the R&D work on GM was initiated in 1994 and is being continued by the company.
What other GM crop varieties are you working on at the moment?
Some of the crops in which Mahyco is working to develop GM varieties are rice, wheat, cotton, sorghum, tomato and okra.
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Outside of GM, what is in your R&D pipeline? The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) Chairman Ashok Gulati recently stressed the need for hybrid paddy varieties. What are your plans for rice?
We have strong conventional breeding programmes focused on developing high- yielding, disease-resistant varieties and hybrids. Besides this, Mahyco is making significant efforts in molecular breeding, marker-assisted selections and so on.
Why has the company been sticking to hybrid varieties of Bt and not coming out with variety seeds with Bt? Won’t making farmers dependent on your company every year for seeds backfire some day?
The development of hybrids is independent of Bt technology. Hybrid cotton has been cultivated in India since 1971 and has covered a significant area before the introduction of Bt. Farmers prefer to use hybrid seeds in various crops including cotton because they are more productive and meet the varied quality parameters of the user industry.
As far as dependency of farmers on Mahyco Bt cotton is concerned, there are five Bt technologies and 300-plus hybrids approved by the regulators and available to choose from. If hybrids from one provider are not acceptable, then the farmer can choose from the other providers who are offering Bt hybrids for sale.
One of the criticisms levelled against GM seeds is that farmer ignorance is leading to wrong choices. In Bt cotton, for instance, there are are 300 varieties to choose from. How does Mahyco address this issue?
This is an incorrect perception. The farmer has a pragmatic approach in choosing the best hybrids based on trial results and his own or his neighbour’s experience, irrespective of the provider.
Mahyco has been accused of contamination of paddy outside its trial site owing to sheer carelessness. Your response?
These allegations have been raised by organisations ideologically opposed to GM crops and ignorant about ground realities in agriculture. The allegations have been critically examined by the appropriate regulatory authorities and they have found that the trials were conducted with required permissions and safeguards, and according to the protocol approved by the regulatory committees.
Recently the Bihar government asked you to stop GM maize trials because it was not consulted. How did this happen?
This is factually incorrect. Mahyco has not been asked to stop any GM maize trials by Bihar.
An organic pesticide-free model of farming is reportedly being practised successfully in Andhra Pradesh in 25 lakh acres by the government. Do you see that as a threat to the kind of farming your company promotes?
The subject matter has been in discussion under various fora. However, we are unable to locate this 25 lakh acre area where no pesticides are used in the state of Andhra Pradesh. For your information, Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading pesticide consuming states in the country.
Why is your company opposed to the ceiling imposed on seed prices by several states?
This is contrary to the policy of the Government of India to allow market determination of prices. The central government has stated this policy in various fora and even in its submission to the various courts of law and the apex court in the country.
The Andhra government’s contention, for instance, is that the royalty charges on Bt cotton is too high. Your view?
The government’s contention about royalty charges on Bt cotton is contrary to the factual position. The royalty being charged on Bt cotton in India is the lowest in the world. A report published by the International Cotton Advisory Council, Washington, has amply clarified this.
Orissa, Gujarat and Rajasthan have memorandums of understanding with you to let you use the state apparatus to promote your seeds. In Rajasthan this has led to protests and they are going to review it. Do you expect the same fate in other states?
Mahyco has worked with various state governments over the last 45 years to promote innovative technologies like hybrids in corn, sorghum, pearl millet, cotton, vegetables, wheat, rice, to name a few. The company has found state governments responsive to various initiatives and the seed industry has seen a steady adoption of such technologies. The adoption of Bt cotton should be an eye-opener for the opponents. The protests are organised by vested interests who are opposed to the introduction of innovative technologies in Indian agriculture for the livelihood improvement and income generation of the country’s small and marginal farmers.