Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Western Ghats can't afford GM crops

Kerala has been the first state to denounce GM crops and was followed by Orissa, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Unless others states existing within the Western Ghats region viz., Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Goa and Maharshtra make similar commitments, the Kerala decision may not have the desired impact.

It will be foolish to introduce `genetically engineered' products in a region where `natural engineering' is still at work, tossing new species frequently. Almost a dozen new ambhibians (see picture) were found in last couple of years. Clearly, this laboratory is far more sophisticated than any GM lab.

It costs no less than $41 million to develop a GM crop and secure administrative sanction for it. Data on safety and productivity of these crops is therefore generated to suit the interests of the companies that developed them because at the end-of-the-day the companies would not only need to recover the investment but make profit too.

Kerala has taken first step to say `NO' to GM crops but unless it is enacted as a legislation, it may remain vulnerable to the dismal science and dubious design of the GM industry. The GM industry has already co-opted the most vulnerable sections of the country's scientific and administrative syatems, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Genetic Engineering Advisory Committee being the frontrunner in the category.

Despite growing opposition to GM, in India and across the World, the GM industry may not give in easily. It is backed by `money' that can buy `patronage'. Reports indicate that two US-based scientists are travelling across the country to convince people about GM crops. They already held a meeting in Trivandrum in early December. The scientists who are allegedly on the payroll of industry would only like to clone their species.

Western Ghats cannot afford mindless violation by genetically-modified industry and its cronies. It is a ecological heritage whose economic worth is several times the cumulative assets of the entire GM industry.