The Deseeya Karshaka Samajam has urged the Government to ban the genetically modified (GM) seed for paddy cultivation being used in the district, which is promoted by a multinational company. Samajam general secretary Muthalamthode Mani in a statement here on Wednesday said that GM seed was being promoted by the company to phase out the native varieties of paddy from Palakkad. Once the company succeeded in it, farmers would have to buy the GM seed at high cost and the fertilizer and pesticide for its cultivation from the same company. The paddy cultivated would also have to be given to the multinational giant. Thus, the farmers who were now in dire straits due to high cost of cultivation and low cost of the product would be further exploited by the company.
The statement said that the multinational GM seed company entered the State as part of the globalization and liberalization policies. Thus the farmers would have to fight against its operations in the district.
(The Hindu, 28.06.07)
No comments:
Post a Comment