84 more villages of UP pledge to remain free of genetically modified crops

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84 more villages of UP pledge to remain free of genetically modified crops

 

 

Mar 24, 2007

 

Gonda (Uttar Pradesh):

 

Nearly 5,000 farmers from 84 villages spanning eight blocks of Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh have pledged NOT to cultivate genetically modified (GM) crops and instead practice organic farming. An oath to remain GM free was administered by the organizing secretary of the Deendayal Research Institute (DRI), Mr Abhay Mahajan.

 

It may be recalled that 2,000 farmers from 64 villages of Chitrakoot and Banda districts in Uttar Pradesh took a similar pledge on February 7, 2007. Food and trade policy analyst Mr Devinder Sharma had then administered the oath on behalf of the ‘Coalition for a GM Free India’, a collective of citizen groups, mass based organization and farmer unions.

 

This brings the total number of UP villages, which have pledged to remain GM free to 148.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mahajan emphasized on the virtues and relevance of organic farming. He asked farmers to come forward and take up sustainable farming methods, which is the only way to evade suicides and revert to healthy living. He said that DRI at Chitrakoot is showing the path to sustainable development, and has turned into a boon for the farmers in the surrounding areas.

 

The swearing-in event took place at a farmers fair organized at LBS Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Gopal Gram, Gonda, Uttar Pradesh on Mar 16 to draw attention to Organic farming. Scientists from the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (Lucknow), Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (Varanasi), State Agriculture and Horticulture Departments urged farmers to develop their own seeds and technologies suited to their local requirements. #********************************Bhaskar GoswamiForum for Biotechnology & Food SecurityNew Delhi, IndiaMob: +91-98111-91335Skype: b.goswami