To
The Hon'ble Chief Minister, Orissa
Chief Ministers Office,
State Secretariat,
Sachivalaya Marg,
DT:01.05.08
Respected Sir,
We are in receipt of the minutes of the 83rd meeting of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), held on the 2nd of April 2008 at the Office of the Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) under the Chairmanship of Shri B R Prasheera, Additional Secretary, MoEF, and Chairman GEAC. A copy of the same is attached for your kind perusal.
Paragraph 4.1.12 of the said document states, "…
As per Memo no: 1687/ 09.08.2006 issued by your office, it was clearly stated that, "Bt Cotton cultivation in the State of
In a move very similar to your concerned efforts, the State Government of Kerala has written to the Central Agriculture ministry asking that Kerala be kept GM-Free. The Kerala State Biodiversity Board has also resolved to demand for a ban of the release of GM crops into the environment and GM foods into the market to protect the health, agriculture and biodiversity of the nation. This was declared at a two day National Seminar convened by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board on 10 and 11 April 2008 at
Interestingly Dr Pushpa M Bhargava, Vice Chairman, Knowledge Commission, and one of the experts appointed by the Supreme Court to supervise the biosafety protocol of the GEAC, has aired his misgivings about the technology. Paragraph 4.1.6 states, "Dr Bhargava, in his opening statement informed, he would not be able to support release of GM crops for commercialization or field trials without examining the biosafety data and other available alternatives.
Paragraph 8.5.2 (1.0) of the same document points out that, "Dr. Bhargava requested for some time to detail out his concerns related to release of GM crops in the environment. He opined that agriculture security of
The Indian experience with Bt Cotton in the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,
Bt cotton trials and also cultivation has been going on in Orissa without the permission of the GEAC nor even the State Govt.
We had hoped that the comments of your Office as well as the statement of the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture would have a sobering effect on the GEAC. But to our utter surprise the GEAC has preferred to overlook the protest of the State and also the bitter experience in other States and given the go ahead for the commercial cultivation of Bt Cotton. Considering that the GEAC is also involved with Multi Location Restricted Trials (MLRT) of Bt Brinjal, Bt Okra and GM Rice, we are extremely worried about the emerging scenario.
We would therefore request your good self to kindly oppose this move of the GEAC to impose GM crops in Orissa without a proper debate and in absence of adequate biosafety data and keep your commitment towards keeping Orissa GM free. We also request you to kindly make our State's position clar to the Central Agriculture Minister as well as to the Genetic Engineering approval Committee so as to maintain our GE-Free advantage. Your action will remove the dark clouds gathering over the future of small and marginalized farmers of the State, protect their lives and livelihood, and also help in preserving the rich biodiversity of Orissa. The consumers too will be spared a highly toxic diet.
Thanking you,
Respectfully yours,
For Coalition For GM Free Orissa.
Prof Radhamohan, Retired State Information Commissioner,
Sri Natabara Sarangi, - Organic Farmer,
Sri Bibhudendra Prasad Das - Ex-MLA, President Orissa Krushak Mahasangha,
Sri Biswajit Mohanty, Noted Environmentalist,
Sri Asit Mohanty, Farmers Union Leader,
Prof B K Nayak -
Prof Shambu Prasad, Associate Professor, XIM,
Sri Bharat Bhushan Thakur, Secretary, Jana Kalyan Sanstha, Bhawanipatna,
Sri Sudhir Pattnaik, Writer & Social Activist
Sri Sudarshan Das, Secretary, Human Development Foundation,
Sri Ratnakar Sahu, Organic Farmer, Patnagarh , Bolangir,
Simanchal Nayak, Rishikulya Ryot Mahasabha, , Ganjam,
Sri Siba Prasad Sahu, Ahimsa Club, Bargarh,
Sri Debjeet Sarangi,Living Farms ,
Sri Jagannath Chatterjee, Social Activist, Member, Coalition for GM Free
------------
State Coalition for GM Free Orissa,
Plot no: 1181/2146,
Ratnakar Bag – 2,
Tankapani Road,
Bhubaneswar.
DT: 01.05.08
PRESS RELEASE
SUB: GEAC PERMISSION TO ALLOW BT COTTON CULTIVATION IN ORISSA.
Bhubaneswar: The 83rd Meeting of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee held on the 2nd April'2008, arbitrarily decided to allow Bt Cotton cultivation in Orissa. This is despite the stance of the Government of Orissa not to allow GM crops into the State. However despite the protests and demonstrations against Bt Cotton held at Bhubaneswar on 7th & 8th of April, the State Government is yet to take a definite stance on the issue. It was therefore decided by the State Coalition for GM Free Orissa to write to the Hon'ble Chief Minister informing him about the decision of the GEAC and reminding him of his assurance to the people of the State.
The protests by farmers are still on. The Coalition continues to receive signatures from farmers who oppose the move. On the 7th of April the Coalition had presented 30,000 signatures received from farmers before the media during a Press Conference held at Bhubaneswar. An online signature campaign has elicited 501 signatures from Orissa and beyond criticizing the move to introduce Bt Cotton into the State despite the tragic consequences in the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Other organisations have held massive demonstrations involving tribals and farmers both protesting Bt Cotton and showcasing the rich biodiversity of the State of Orissa.
Along with the letter addressed to the Hon'ble Chief Minister and the results of the online petition we are also attaching a map showing the spurt in cotton cultivation under contract farming arrangement in the State. This is at the expense of land under food grain cultivation, mostly upland paddy and millets .Worldwide we are observing a growing food crisis which is threatening to snow ball into a major popular uprising. It has been acknowledged that conversion of food growing land into other uses including the promotion of cash crops (like cotton) and plantations for biofuels is directly responsible for the rising prices and erratic supply of food. We are observing the same scenario in Orissa.
The Coalition warns that contract farming that has resulted in cotton cultivation shifting from the traditional cotton belt of Kalahandi and Nuapada, has larger implications on food security of the people not only because of the shift to non food crops but loss of work to labor due to use of chemicals and machinery. This also opens up the door to Bt Cotton as has been observed in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Yours faithfully,
For State Coalition for GM Free Orissa,
Debjeet Sarangi.
Member.
Attached: 1. Mail to Hon'ble Chief Minister, Orissa,
2. 501 signatures in response to online petition.
3. Map showing growth in cotton cultivation in Orissa.
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