Farmers defy govt norms, plant illegal GM seeds

Akoli Jahangir (Akola): It’s as easy as getting liquor in a dry area, said a farmer, about buying unauthorized herbicide tolerant (HT) cotton seeds. Over 1,200 odd farmers had gathered at this village in Akola district on Monday under the banner of Shetkari Sangathana, to openly plant the illegal seeds in a farm in the presence of police.
As of now, the Shetkari Sanghatana has only got a warning letter from the agriculture department saying it should not be involved in cultivation of the illegal seed.
The Sangathana, a farmers’ organization which was at its peak in 1970s and 80s, has been lobbying for free access to the latest technology in farming, including genetically modified (GM) seeds.
Calling it their ‘civil disobedience movement’, just like in the freedom struggle, the activists said their objective was to assert that the HT seeds have gained large-scale acceptability among farmers, and are easily available through illegal channels. They said, “It’s time the government allowed its use.”
The Sangathana estimates that some 11 lakh hectares are already under HT cotton in the state.
Shetkari Sangathana also called for freeing the cultivation of Bt brinjal, which is also a GM variety. The organization is planning to hold such events throughout the state once the rains begin, and take the movement to states like Punjab and Haryana.
Currently, planting the HT seeds can lead to a five-year sentence or penalty running into lakhs. Lalit Bahale, the Shetkari Sangathana activist on whose farm the seeds were sowed, admitted he has brought the seeds, but refused to divulge the source. “I also had the trials done to ascertain their authenticity, and took out the best lot. I am ready for any legal action, as I believe that access to any technology that can improve a farmer’s life is his right,” he told TOI.
Earlier, farmers from other parts of the state walked onto the stage and declared they had sowed HT seeds in the previous season, and would do so in the future too. Each one of them stressed that the technology helped them not only earn more but even come out of losses. They admitted buying the seeds through illegal channels, which is a well-oiled network, and came down hard on the anti-GM activists and environmentalists, including organizations like Greenpeace.
There were also calls to stop calling the seed ‘Chor Bt’, as it is known locally due to the lack of approval for it. “Rather, it should be known as ‘Imandar Bt’ as only this variety can earn us money,” Bahale told the audience.
The Shetkari Sangathana’s stance has drawn flak from the anti-GM activists, who call it a campaign funded by biotech companies.
Though, in the case of HT cotton, there has been no denial of permission by the government. Rather, Monsanto, which developed the technology, withdrew its application in 2016.
A Monsanto spokesperson said no comments can be made on the future plans related to HT seeds at this stage. The application was withdrawn on account of issues related to commercial and regulatory policies, said the spokesperson.
Shetkari Sangathana activists said they do not favour any company, their demand is that the government should ease its policies towards intellectual property rights or royalty. This can encourage any company like Monsanto to reconsider its decision regarding the Indian markets, they said.
The Bt brinjal has been approved by the Genetical Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), but a moratorium has been placed on the go-ahead by the government. The activists have demanded that the moratorium be lifted, as the variety was easily available in Punjab and Haryana.
Gunji Prakash, a farmer from Kaithal district in Haryana, also admitted having grown the brinjal variety, saying it was smuggled in from Bangladesh.