[Reader-list] Kerala bans GM foods, urges India to follow

[Sujata & Samantak]

Dear All,
The following might interest those who are trying to look a little bit into
the future of food and food security in our country.
Samantak


South Asia Post,

Issue 98 Vol IV, October 31, 2009





*Kerala rejects GM.*

*CM urges PM not go ahead.*



*IN a clear and cogent letter to the prime minister, the chief minister of
Kerala *

*has argued in detail about the dangers of the GM seeds *

*and the threat from the multinationals to Indian biodiversity.*



Here is the text of the letter.



Shri. Manmohan Singh,

Honourable Prime Minister of India,

South Block, New Delhi.



Greetings from ‘God’s own country’.

I am addressing an important issue here - the introduction of GM crops and
food in the State as well as in the country. I understand our stand on the
GM crops and foods was already made very clear to the Union Agriculture
Minister, Shri. Sarat Pawar, and to your kind self, by our Agriculture
Minister, Shri. Mullakara Ratnakaran and the Chairman of the Kerala State
Biodiversity Board,. V. S. Vijayan respectively.

We are concerned about the introduction of the GM crops into the State. We
had conducted a national workshop on the desirability of the GM crops
sometime in April 2008 and, at the end of the two day workshop, it had come
out with a unanimous   resolution that the GM crops and foods should not be
allowed in the State and, the resolution further says that we should also
try to impress upon the Union Government in banning the GM in the country. A
copy of the resolution is enclosed herewith for your ready reference.

May I reiterate that the Kerala State has already taken a policy decision
not to allow GM crops, even for trials, until the debate on the issue of GM
that is going on the world over is settled for ever. We are convinced with
the available information that:

 (a) GM crops are not economically viable for the farmers,

 (b) GM crops and foods lead to unimaginable health hazards,

 (c) GM crops contaminate the local and wild varieties, the damages of which
are irrevocable and, such contamination of our traditional varieties cause
irreparable damage to food security of the country

 (d) GM denies the farmers right to choose what he wants to sow in his own
farm, and ultimately,

 (e) The country’s sovereignty over food and agriculture will be endangered.

Moreover, we are convinced that the Genetic Modification of crops is not a
solution for hunger as has been wrongly advocated by the proponents of the
GM, because the genetic modification is done not to increase the
productivity, but to control the insect pests or the weeds. I am sure, you
would agree with me that there are several cheaper and environment-friendly
options to control the pests and weeds.

It may also be noted the Task Force on Application of Biotechnology on
Agriculture headed by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan is unambiguous that the
mega-diversity centres and biodiversity hotspots like Western Ghats shall be
kept free of any GM experiments/crops. The Task Force report further
recommends that even the transgenic research should not be undertaken in
crops/commodities where our international trade will be affected.

In this context, you may please note that Kerala is a State heavily depended
on international market for its agricultural commodities. Any contamination
from genetic modification can cause further damage in the trade prospects of
the State. Kerala is also an important centre of diversity of medicinal
plants and heritage of traditional medicines like ayurveda. Serious concern
has already been expressed by the Ayurveda practitioners on GM research
being undertaken on various crops.

You would be delighted to note that the State has already declared an
Organic Farming Policy, Strategy and Action Plan in 2008. Accordingly, the
entire food crops would be converted to organic within five years and the
cash crops within another five years. This will, apart from helping to feed
the people with non-poisoned food, enhance our export possibilities with a
high premium.

However, introduction of GM crops will certainly defeat the very purpose of
organic farming, because GM crops/foods are more disastrous than those from
crops raised using chemical pesticides and fertilisers. It would also kill
the State’s trade prospects.

Considering all these, the Government of Kerala has taken a decision to
prohibit all environmental release of GMOs and keep the State totally GM
free. We would also request the Honourable Prime Minister to reconsider the
policy on GM in the national scale and declare a moratorium at least for the
next 50 years, so that we could learn the desirability of GM from other
countries where it is being practised in large scale.

We would urge the Central Government to respect the well informed decision
of the State Government and issue necessary orders to all concerned
Ministries not to permit any GM research or release of GMOs within the
boundaries of the State. Such an order from the Union Government will
further strengthen the federal fabric of our nation as enshrined in the
constitution.

                              With kind regards

                              Yours sincerely,

                              V. S. Achuthanandhan

Copy to: Ministry of: Environment and Forests; Agriculture and Cooperation;
Science and Technology; Health and Family Welfare; and Department of
Biotechnology