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Experts, farmers demand withdrawal of BT-cotton permission

Accusing the government of allowing commercial use of BT-cotton under pressure from multinationals, farmer leaders and experts on Thursday demanded immediate withdrawal of the permission, saying the actual yield as also the effect of the Genetically Modified crop on environment and health are yet to be verified.

Terming the permission as a move to "dislodge" small farmers and benefit multi national companies and corporate sector, they told reporters that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee has ignored its own mandate to ensure bio-safety by granting permission for BT-cotton's commercialisation in the absence of effective monitoring.

"The impression given by BT promoters that it would step up yield substantially is wrong. BT cotton has been genetically engineered to produce toxins, and not to increase yield," Vandana Shiva, Director of Research Foundation of Science, Technology and Ecology, said.

Trials have shown that other varieties like LHH can have higher output than BT-cotton, she said.

Seeking immediate capacity building at local, regional and national levels for monitoring bio-safety, she said the GEAC should ensure labelling of seeds for bio-safety and environmental safety.

Echoeing similar views, N K Shukla of All India Kisan Sabha, Debabrata Biswas of All India Agragami Kisan Sabha and Hannan Mollah of All India Agriculture Workers Union said BT cotton may destroy Indian agriculture, farmers and ecology and lead to corporatisation of farming.

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