BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Government has been accused of neglecting its responsibility and failing to address the problem of the cotton-growing farmers of the Nimar region who have suffered huge losses due to large-scale devastation of crops after sowing BT cotton seeds.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the general secretary of Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Sunil said that farmers of Nimar region have suffered crop failure and the State Government has been very slow and ineffective in responding to the problem linked with the BT seeds.

In sharp contrast, he said, the Andhra Pradesh Government has been more pro-active as it banned three varieties of BT cotton after the farmers in Andhra Pradesh suffered crop failure.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has even filed a suit in the State High Court seeking compensation for the farmers, he said adding that the seeds banned by the Andra Pradesh Government were selling freely in this State. Instead of banning the seeds, the State Government has given an extension of three years to companies dealing with these seeds.

Some of the affected farmers and social activists were also present at the meeting. Mr. Sunil also raised the issue of BT cotton seeds and said that the companies like Monsento-Mahyco, Rassi, Ankur, Pro-Agro, and Nusivedu should be held responsible for the losses suffered by the cotton growing farmers and the Madhya Pradesh and the Central Governments should immediately step in to compensate the affected farmers.

Jan Sunwai held

The issue of massive crop failure was raised at a Jan Sunwai (public hearing) organised at the Kukshi Krishi Upaj Mandi in Dhar district on October 23 where about 500 farmers from Nimar, Barwani and Dhar districts had gathered. The officers of the seed promoting companies and State Government were present.

A report published by the Kukshi Krishi Upaj Mandi points out that there is a serious need for a review of the genetically modified technology. Addressing journalists, Mr. Sunil said the technology is defective, against the laws of nature and based on interspecies transfer of genes. The effect of this technology on agriculture, environment and human beings has not been properly evaluated, he added.

He went on to emphasise that Monsanto, the American MNC, is the owner of BT patent and all other companies selling the seeds pay it a huge royalty.

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