The Hindu : National : ‘Congress grass’ was present in India before PL-480 wheat, says America

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Friday, Jul 20, 2007
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‘Congress grass’ was present in India before PL-480 wheat, says America

Special Correspondent

To continue imports from the U.S. will undermine India’s food sovereignty: NGO

India urged to conduct
“independent tests” of imported wheat
Cost 10-20 cent less for imported wheat, says U.S. embassy

NEW DELHI: The United States Embassy on Wednesday differed from the Indian researchers’ view that that the U.S. wheat imported to India in the 1950s as part of the PL-480 Food for Peace program brought invasive (“Congress grass”) weeds to this country.

According to embassy spokesperson Larry Schwartz, “documented reports published in 1888 by D. Brandis of the Dehra Dun Forest Research Institute, and by other researchers in 1914, observed the presence of these same invasive weeds in India.”

The U.S. has urged the Government to conduct “independent tests” of imported wheat arriving in Indian ports to verify that the phytosanitary standards were being truly met.

Stung by the recent remarks of Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar on the U.S. wheat not meeting India’s phytosanitary norms, the embassy spokesperson said, “We call on Indian officials to disregard baseless allegations for keeping American wheat out of this market. Moreover, we reiterate our belief, based on surveys of comparable markets, that Indian consumers will be paying 10-20 cent less for imported wheat if American wheat is purchased.”

No political sense

In a separate press note, Vandana Shiva of Navdanya criticised the Government for “justifying” the high cost of imported wheat.

“The high cost of wheat import makes no political sense, because it threatens our food sovereignty. It makes no economic sense because there is no domestic scarcity and the imported wheat is more costlier than domestic wheat. And it makes no sense in terms of health and nutrition because the imported wheat is of inferior quality. Instead of importing high-cost, low-quality wheat the Government should be procuring wheat domestically to secure farmers’ livelihood, national food security and the food rights of the poor to safe and affordable food,” she said.

Wheat import

“The Government was importing wheat at $ 317 – $330 a tonne in July 2007, while Indian farmers were only paid Rs.8,500 a tonne, which is less than $200 a tonne. And it is not the case that Indian farmers are not growing enough wheat to feed the people of India. This is a decision that will aggravate the food insecurity of the poor in India and undermine the country’s food sovereignty, is being presented as a step that will protect our food security.”

She said the Government’s declaration that it will continue to import was a blatant violation of food sovereignty. International prices will continue to rise both because India’s purchase has made them rise and because more and more foodgrains are being diverted to bio-fuels.

“Not to strengthen and defend India’s food sovereignty is a national betrayal. The Government which should protect the national interest and public interest is undermining both in order to help global agribusiness get control of our food supply.”

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