Adopt natural farming to thwart global MNCs threat: Expert

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Mysore, Apr 19 (UNI) Switching over to natural farming and establishing seed banks are the only parallel solutions to thwart the global threat from multinational seed companies, Organic Farming expert from Maharashtra Subash Palekar has said.

Inaugurating the two-day international symposium on ''Seeds and Genetic Engineering in Agriculture yesterday, organised by the International Centre for Substainable Development, he said ''These MNCs are exploiting the country's agricultural system. It is not only affecting our farmers, but also our culture.'' Mr Palekar said the MNCs' technology based on chemicals and organic fertilisers had not been useful in securing yield, and claimed that more production could be achieved if natural agricultural methods were followed. This would also make farmers self-sufficent, he added.

He alleged that globalisation was responsible for the rise in the number of farmers' suicide.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Davinder Sharma of Forum for Bio-technology and Food Securities, New Delhi, said if genetic farming continued for five more years, Indian lands would become barren and agriculture production come to a standstill. Hence there was need for returning back to old natural farming in the country, he observed.

He said, ''Due to globalisation, many unwanted western ideas are being imposed on Indian agricultural system and our farmers are the victims.'' Dr Sharma called upon farmers to adopt a zero budget natural farming to enhance production.

Over 100 delegates from all over the country and abroad are participating in the symposium.

UNI BSP RG VJ HS0858

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