Seed Movement chief urges TN Govt to ban GM seeds

Tiruchirapalli, Oct 19 (UNI) Save the Seed Movement President Vijay Jardhari urged the Tamil Nadu Government to ban Genetically Modified(GM) seeds as the crisis in agriculture sector could be solved only by promoting traditional agricultural practices and diversified crops.

Speaking in a function here yesterday, he said "We will have to revive labour-intensive traditional agriculture. Mixed farming should be brought back and mono-cropping for commercialisation should be stopped. Our priority should be for producing nutritious food".

Mr Jardhari said the farmers should opt for traditional seeds, as the GM seeds would affect the prospects of the agriculture in India.

He said though huge amount was spent every year on agriculture research, the condition of farmers went from bad to worse.

"Traditional knowledge is the country's biggest asset, but our attitude towards development does not recognise this.

Traditional farming involves minimal cost of production," he added.

He said the Movement had initiated measures to collect traditional seeds of different crops and varieties. The movement had also submitted a 33-point charter of demands to the Centre for making suitable changes in the agriculture policy, he added.

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