BackGM crops: Prakash Javadekar meets farmers’ body
Ministry officials say there would be several such consultations with other stakeholders in the next few months to build a consensus
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New Delhi: Environment minister Prakash Javadekar met representatives of the Bhartaiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) on Wednesday to discuss contentious issues regarding field testing of genetically modified (GM) crops.
Organizations such as BKS, a farmers association, and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), are affiliated to the parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Their opposition to GM crops could hamstring the National Democratic Alliance government’s plan to push for investment and growth in the biotechnology sector.
This consultation was just the starting points, ministry officials said on condition of anonymity, and in the next few months there would be several such consultations with other stakeholders, but especially with associations that are opposing GM crops.
“This meeting was part of our overall efforts of building consensus on field trials of GM crops as already a lot of controversy has taken place on this issue," a ministry official said. “There would be many more such meetings. A big meeting involving all stakeholders is also being planned by environment ministry on this issue in the next 15-20 days."
BKS’s national secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra, who attended Wednesday’s meeting, said more consultations are expected in near future.
“This is just the start of the consultation process and will continue," Mishra said. “We are only asking the government to remain solid on what they said in their (BJP) manifesto and take action accordingly."
The BJP in its 2014 election manifesto had said GM crops will not be allowed without proper scientific investigation.
In 2013, a parliamentary committee had recommended stopping of all field trials of GM crops. However, since March, over 60 proposals regarding field trials of GM crops has been cleared. When the new government in July cleared 15 such proposals, SJM representatives met Javadekar, who assured them of not rushing with GM technology and holding consultations before taking any decision, according to a statement by SJM in July.
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