64 UP villages pledge to cultivate GM-free crops

Chitrakoot (UP), Feb 8: At a time when genetically modified (GM) crops are shrouded in controversy, farmers from 64 villages of Chitrakoot and Banda districts in Uttar Pradesh have pledged to cultivate only GM-free crops.

About 2,000 farmers and farm workers gathered at village Ganivan in Chitrakoot last evening and pledged to undertake organic farming and prepare their own seeds and fertilisers to promote sustainable farming.

The pledge was administered by noted food and trade policy analyst Devinder Sharma, who is also member of the National Coalition for GM Free India. This was the first time that such a pledge has been made by farmers anywhere in the country.

Organised by Deen Dayal Research Institute (DRI), the event marks a turning point as farmers have decided to go the natural way in order to reverse the devastation caused by 'modern' agriculture.

Disapproving the large-scale diversion of agricultural land for industrial purposes, DRI Chairman Nanaji Deshmukh said, ''Farmers of the country want to grow food, but if land is taken away from them, how will they do it?'' Noted organic farmer from Haryana Ramesh Dagar also addressed the gathering. Senior officers of district administration, agriculture departments and Krishi Vigyan Kendras also attended the meeting.

UNI