New Delhi: Kerala CM's no to GM crops welcomed

New Delhi, July 10: Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan's announcement that his government would not allow Genetically Modified (GM) crops and even research trials on GM rice in the state was today welcomed by civil society leaders.

The leaders said Kerala has become the second state after Uttarakhand to take cudgel against the MNC-sponsored move for controlling seeds and seed technology areas in the country.

The Chief Minister had on Sunday said even if the Central Government granted approval for field trials of GM crops in Palakkad, it could not be allowed without the prior approval of the State Government.

The CM also added that if such experiments are conducted without the State Government's approval, then those who conduct such trials will be answerable to the State and the people and necessary action will be taken against such improper activities.

Monsanto, the multi-national seed monopoly company that conducted field trials on Bt-Cotton in Maharashtra, has now proposed to conduct field trials of GM Rice. When news came that the approval procedures were in the final stages, there was widespread protest by farmers.

Organisations including the Desiya Karshaka Samajam, had warned that this would lead to the extinction of all traditional seeds in Palakkad, and that farmers would fall into the clutches of multinational monopoly companies.

Dr Davinder Sharma from the Delhi-based Centre for Food Security and Environment Safety said the goal of such companies is to initially conduct experiments and then step-by-step introduce the terminator seeds and spread them. The request for approval of trials of GM rice by the companies has the blessings of Central government policies of globalisation and liberalisation.

The farmer organisations also demanded that a new face of resistance be built against these seeds and that warnings against the exploitation of water resources and environment pollution by the MNCs in the Palakkad District (referring to the Coca-cola and Pepsi company exploitation) should not be ignored.

Earlier, on July 7, Kerala State Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratnakaran had warned farmers of the State against the use of GM crops and said the State will not permit such trials. He was addressing the District Farmers Mela, an organised by the State Agriculture Department and attended by more than 5000 farmers.

He had also written to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on the issue and raised concerns of the farmers and the State.

UNI