Maharashtra farmers' group agitates for 'freeing' GM seeds, but illegal varieties are rampant in India

About 1,000 Maharashtra farmers, under the aegis of the Shetkari Sanghatana, participated in a ‘civil disobedience’ movement in favour of GM seeds. “We will continue the programme to plant these seeds in every district and put out videos on social media to build pressure on the government,” Anil Ghanwat, national president of the Shetkari Sanghatana, said. Whilst the Haryana state government authorities have been investigating Bt brinjal illegal cultivation, events have come to such a head that it demands your inputs for action on a national scale, none of which is visible.” The Coalition also raised concerns that in another suspected case of Bt brinjal cultivation in Sirsa, the state authorities drove a tractor through the fields and did not take any samples. Kavitha Kuruganti of the Coalition said those “egging on farmers to do such illegal planting of unapproved GM seeds are actually anti-farmer, or have not understood the ramifications of GM seeds on farmers, unfortunately”. The Coalition demanded large-scale testing nationally to determine how widespread the illegal planting of Bt brinjal is, and prosecute those involved in the illegal supply of Bt brinjal seeds — not the farmers.