WORA 2007 in West Bengal

Category: Campaign News

West Bengal Agriculture Minister warns against multi-national seed companies taking control of seed production; Farmers vow to keep their fields and villages GM Free

On the culmination events of the Week of Rice Action in West Bengal, Sri. Naren Dey, Minister for Agriculture, said that 83% of the seeds sold in the country are produced by big corporates and the Indian seed producer – the Indian farmers have lost the control over their seeds.  He warned that farmers must work towards improving production and productivity of food grains without falling prey to the MNC’s.  He was inaugurating the seminar on the impact of Genetically Engineered Rice and its implications. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Murtaja Hussain, Minister for Agriculture Marketing and Relief.  More than 300 farmers from the three districts of Birbhum, Nadia & North 24 Parganas attended the seminar.  They joined voluntary groups, scientists and development workers at the Vikas Kendra in Atgorah Village to celebrate the Week of Rice Action, as part of their ongoing campaign to Save Rice. 

The one day workshop was organized jointly by Society for Equitable Voluntary Actions (SEVA), Thanal and PANAP.  It was inaugurated by Sri Ashok Gosh, Secretary of SEVA,  together with participants from other countries by filling the earthen pot with seeds.  There were participants from Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Introducing the campaign Ms Clare Westwood, Coordinator of the Rice Campaign, PANAP said “Rice belongs to Asia and is dear to its culture.  The attempts to destroy this culture is a threat to the Asian region, and we must stand together to regain Rice”

Leading the main session Dr Ricarda Steinbrecher, Co-director-Eco Nexus (UK) and an expert in Genetics explained the science behind genetically engineering to farmers and other participants.  The uncertainties of this science and its impacts on health, environment and the crops diversity was also explained. “The solutions that are offered as Genetically Engineered Crops are not solutions, but problems that may manifest only after a few years, and by that time, the worst of the impacts could happen” she explained.  Scientists from various universities and departments then presented the alternatives and the availability of traditional seeds, traditional breeding methods to produce high yielding varieties.   Prof. Pranab Chattapadhaya, an expert in seed science and technology explained how high yielding rice seeds were developed through participatory programmes along with the farmers.  He also explained about the need to see rice fields as biodiverity conservation sites as well.

An exhibition of traditional rice seed varieties collected by farmers from all the villages and brought to the seminar in cycles, were displayed.  Furthermore, six organic farmers were honoured for their contribution to save rice.

Concluding the one-day seminar, the participants took an oath to keep their fields and farms GM free, to save their own traditional seeds and to not allow any land from being taken over for commercial purposes, as it would threaten the food security of their families and the country.  

Declaration

1.    We recognise that growing GM seeds is a threat to our fields, crops, food, environment and health.  It is also a threat to our food security and sovereignty. It takes away our control and right over our seeds.  It will destroy our traditional seeds and knowledge.

Hence, we decide and take oath not to grow GM seeds in our fields and not to allow the growing of such seeds in our villages.

2.    We understand that as farmers it is our right and responsibility to ensure that our families, our villages, State of West Bengal and our country, India have enough food to feed our population,  We are responsible for ensuring India is food secure and its sovereignty over food is protected. 

Hence we decide and take oath not to give away our lands for the commercial interests and industrialisation.

 

3.    We realise that our traditional seeds and our knowledge in farming is of immense value and importance.  In order to help improve our food and nutritional security, we declare that we will protect our traditional seeds, and as we have always been doing for centuries, grow them and share them with our fellow farmers.

 

---