Indian Farmers Using Social Media to Demand GM Seeds

At a time when there is a massive controversy over genetically modified crops, a farmers’ organization in Maharashtra is making a strong pitch for GM seeds, writes Manasi Phadke on ThePrint.in.

For about 15 days now, farmers across Maharashtra have been getting social media forwards urging them to give a missed call if they wish to fight for the availability of the GM seed technology.

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The posts being circulated by Shetkari Sanghatana, a farmers’ organization, say “Bheek nako, GM biyana dya” (don’t give us your alms, give us GM seeds instead).

The organization is also organizing conferences for farmers on this issue.

The Shetkari Sanghatana, founded by former Rajya Sabha member and farmers’ leader Sharad Joshi, has always been in favor of GM technology.

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However, with the state government now cracking down on farmers using unapproved variants of GM cotton, the organisation has raised its pitch on the need to make latest seed technology commercially available to farmers.

There is ample opposition to introducing GM food in India with activists, environmentalists, and politicians raising fears of it adversely affecting food safety and biodiversity in the country.

Read more at ThePrint.in.

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