Indian farmer: Anti-GMO mustard activists don’t speak for me

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For the last 20 years, I have farmed mustard in … Rajasthan. Every year I procure hybrid seeds and use five sprays of pesticide ­– but my yield remains below the national average.

. . . .

We farmers are unable to find solutions for stagnant or declining productivity…. At the same time, costs have been escalating and the price of produce has been declining. Tools for increasing productivity aren’t available, contributing to making farming increasingly unsustainable.

Recently, I interacted with farmers from USA, Canada and other countries…. Their yield is almost double ours….

So why is it harder for us? The answer could lie in genetic modification.

Indigenously developed GM Mustard is a promising technology…. It has been vigorously tested and has the potential to enhance productivity and profitability enormously.

. . . .

However, activists have hindered efforts to introduce other GM crops. … Basically, a motivated motley group of unscientific people are trying to decide on behalf of crores of Indian farmers….  They don’t speak for me.

. . . .

People opposing GM mustard are not connected with agriculture and have vested interests in keeping agricultural productivity poor in India.

(Pawan Payal is National Coordinator of Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association (RKPA) based in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan….)

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: I Am a Struggling Farmer And Anti-GM Activists Do Not Speak For Me

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