Farmers body welcomes move to put GM crop field trials on hold

Farmers body All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) today welcomed the Environment Ministry's decision to put on hold field trials of genetically modified crops (GM).
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had earlier this month cleared 15 proposals for confined field trials for rice, brinjal, chickpea, mustard and cotton.
Later on July 29, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had said: "Government has not taken any decision on the issue. Government will not take any decision in haste."
"The wider resistance from peasantry, scientists and other sections have compelled the government to step back from its own pro-corporate move. It is a victory for larger democratic resistance movement against corporate hegemony," the farmers body said in statement.

However, it is only a temporary relief and the resistance must be further intensified till a permanent solution evolves, the statement added.
"It is also notable here that the European Union has banned GM trials on all food crops," AIKS said.
However, the AIKS favours scientific innovation which protects the best interests of people and farmers, provided there should not be any trials of GM food crops without ensuring safety for humans, animals and the environment.
"Secondly, all such experiments should be done by the public sector and the government institutions and no Multi National Corporations should be allowed to undertake field trials," the statement said.