RSS-affiliated farmer body seeks denotification of Bt cotton seeds

RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh on Tuesday demanded denotification of Bt Cotton seeds and suggested adoption of indigenous technology to save the cotton sector as the country has started depending on imports. Cautioning the government against approving the controversial herbicide-tolerant HT Bt cotton, BKS has threatened to launch agitation if the government proceeds with permission for the controversial variety.

The announcement made by BKS general secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra assumes significance as the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, is in India to hold discussions on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), in which genetically modified (GM) crops are a major bone of contention.

The BKS said that Indian cotton prices have significantly declined after the government abolished 11 per cent import duty till October 31.

“We demand that Bt cotton varieties (BG-I and BG-II) be de-notified with immediate effect. A complete ban should be imposed on all GM crops in the country. Besides, a thorough investigation should be conducted against those who have misled farmers by promoting misleading and false narratives in favour of Bt cotton,” Mishra said, seeking that strict punitive action be taken against them.

Addressing the media in New Delhi, he alleged that the decline in cotton production in the country was solely due to the adoption of Bt cotton in 2002. Shared a letter that BKS has written to the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking his intervention; he termed the narrative being promoted by supporters of GM crops as misleading.

According to him, Bt cotton was never a high-yielding crop, and secondly, contrary to claims, it has completely failed to control the pink bollworm (PBW) pest. “The introduction of Bt cotton has led to the disappearance of traditional and indigenous cotton varieties that were suited to India’s diverse agro-climatic regions, resulting in a significant decline in overall production,” he said.

Suggesting that India must return to its high-yielding indigenous cotton varieties and traditional agricultural practices to overcome this crisis, he alleged that due to the influence and pressure of foreign companies, excessive use of chemicals in agriculture has made agricultural produce increasingly toxic.

The growing use of chemicals such as glyphosate and paraquat dichloride is causing diseases like cancer to assume epidemic proportions, which is a matter of serious concern for the general public. He called for a ban on their use.

Farmer leader Shrirang Dada Lad, who has been recognised by the government with a Padma Shri for developing technology to increase cotton production, stated that cotton farmers need training in improved indigenous seeds and cultivation techniques to become self-reliant rather than relying on GM seeds.

He proposed that he is willing to provide nationwide training in this cotton production technology, which has been certified by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He urged the government to support efforts to make the technology accessible to all farmers.