A Voice of Reason

Thanks SRP! For speaking out the truth

To be or not to be? That’s the question nagging people in Kerala as regards the use of GM (Genetically Modified) crops in the field. Being a leftist state in general, a large section of the populace and almost all the politicians are against it. Kerala doesn’t have much of a choice as far as policies are concerned among its two major political formations which have handled power ever since it was constituted in 1956. Be it the leftist, communists-led Left Democratic Front or the left-centrist, Congress-led United Democratic Front, when crucial developmental policies are concerned, both have the same opinions. Ask them whether globalization was good for India, and you can actually see the Congress party taking a defensive stance and give stammering replies! Trade unions rule the state, often forming mafias and stifling industrial growth, which has earned the dubious title of ‘Industrial Siberia of India’ for the state. I hear that Siberia is far advancing in industry at present, so ‘Sahara’ may be more appropriate.

It was in this context that I heard Mr. S Ramachandran Pillai, member of the polit bureau of CPM and the President of the All India Peasants Union voice a different note regarding GM crops while inaugurating the three-day seminar on ‘Agriculture in the era of globalization’ at Thiruvananthapuram yesterday. He said that opposition to GM seeds was superstitious, that they would help improve farm productivity and help tackle malnutrition. He however added that they should be used only after taking all precautions. This came as a shock to ignorant politicians like Mr. Mullakkara Ratnakaran, the state agriculture minister who was also in the podium. He quickly refuted the argument saying the big corporates were undermining the natural traditions of agriculture and felt that if the country persisted with such policies, the poor farmers would soon be left with no farm land! There are three points he raised here, 1) Big corporates 2) Undermining natural traditions and 3) farmers losing land. Yes, without changing the natural traditions of agriculture, we wouldn’t have been able to increase the crop yield of rice by 196% and that of wheat by 308% over the 40 years from 1960 to 2000. China, which has actively embraced modern scientific techniques has been able to raise the yield by 300% and 681% (Source: FAO Data) for rice and wheat respectively over the same period! Anyone with common sense can appreciate that big research on GM food can’t be done on a small-scale anywhere in the world. Also, how the farmer would lose land is beyond anybody’s understanding. This remark is a chilling reminder of the incompetence of this politician to run the agricultural ministry of a state! No wonder, Kerala is depending on farm produce imported from other states!

The most refreshing and encouraging aspect is that a leading politician from the CPM has taken the bold step to declare that the king is naked and we sincerely hope that this voice not be stifled by all-powerful party bosses steeped neck-deep in corruption, even though wielding much following. This will surely bring in more healthy debates on the subject from scientists and agriculturists and not by idiotic politicians running the show.