Agribiotech moratorium will harm Indian farmers most, warn scientists

Perceiving a grim picture, scientists at the weekend referred to the recommendations of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by the Supreme Court as taking the country in the opposite direction, halting the progress required to cater to the growing needs of the country. The TEC was appointed to address certain issues related to agricultural biotechnology in India

The scientists also expressed their fears that it could far-reaching impact, denying farmers the benefits of technology and will affect education, training, research and development in this area. The scientists, speaking at a forum organised by the Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education (FBAE), Bangalore, have asked the SC to reject the TEC’s interim report and to constitute a well-balanced committee to re-examine all issues raised in the interim report, in consultation with scientists with hands-on experience in agricultural biotechnology. They also refuted the claims on the safety aspects of GM crops.

“The TEC report has extrapolated all the regulatory issues raised with respect to Bt brinjal, which in themselves have no scientific basis,” said G Padmanabhan, the former director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The technology industry also came out strongly against the recommendations of the TEC on a moratorium on field trials for 10 years.

“Field testing is an unavoidable and integral part of any crop improvement process,” said K K Narayanan, managing director, Meta-Helix Life Sciences Ltd, Bangalore.

“If the recommendations are accepted, the technologies which can potentially mitigate the sufferings of farmers and revive our agricultural sector are being needlessly denied to the very people who need it the most,” he added.