INDIAN GOVERNMENT: Shri Sompal's statement ...
OTC 03.12.98 04:09
DEC 2, 1998, M2 Communications - The following is the text of the
statement of Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Sompal about
calling attention motion regarding threat of American terminator
seed to Indian Agriculture in Rajya Sabha today:
"Recently reports have appeared in a section of the press
regarding the harmful effect of American terminator seeds to
Indian Agriculture.
Terminator gene, according to the University of Agriculture
Science, Bangalore, is one that blocks the genetically altered
seed from germinating after one season. This is lethal and poses
a global threat to farmers, bio-diversity and food and ecological
security. The use of this technology would threaten the farmers'
rights to save the seed for their harvest. Because of the lethal
nature of the product, the public has been asked to be vary of
the introduction of genetically modified foods in many parts
wherever this technique is being tried to be introduced.
A patent on control of plant gene expression has been taken
jointly by Delta & Pineland Company, which is a subsidiary of
Monsanto and the United States Department of Agriculture for
controlling the viability of seed produced without adversely
affecting the crop. In the patent, the method of producing the
transgenic plants that renders seeds sterile, has been used. The
technology alters the genetic constitution of seed so that it
will not germinate if used for raising the second crop.
The company claims that terminator technology is useful to the
extent that it improves the productivity of crop and will provide
more choices to the farmers for selecting high yielding
varieties' seeds. However, it is harmful in many ways. The farmer
will be dependent upon terminator seed and will have to buy the
same seed again and again. The company producing the seed can
charge any price from the farmers. The farmer will not be in a
position to use seeds saved from the previous crops. It will
threaten the farmers' expertise in seed selection and traditional
conservation-cum-improved ways of carrying forward the seeds. The
technology would have serious implications on the crop
bio-diversity. It may lead to gradual extinction of traditional
varieties. Crop related wild varieties, important for natural
evolution for crop species would be affected by
cross-contamination. This concern would be of special relevance
to India, since the country abounds in land races and wild
relatives of crop plants.
The terminator technology for transgenic gene has not yet been
developed to a stage where seeds incorporating such technologies
can actually be produced. Monsanto has entered into Memorandum of
Understanding with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
regarding general research which according to them does not
include research on terminator seeds.
There is no threat of American terminator seeds to Indian
Agriculture as legal entry of such a seed has not been allowed in
Indian market. The Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine
and Storage of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
has issued instructions to the import permit issuing authorities
to ensure that seeds imported into India are not having
terminator genes. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research and
Department of Bio-Technology will develop a suitable technology
and also standardise the technique for detecting the terminator
genes or their combination in the seeds. It would also be ensured
that entry of transgenic planting material in the country even
for research purpose should be done only through one entry point.
While appreciating the concern of the Members on the threat to
Indian Agriculture because of Terminator Gene, I can assure the
Members that the Government is aware of the dangers of
introduction of terminator gene in the country and all efforts
are being made to ensure that such transgenic material does not
find legal entry into India. The interests of Indian farmers
would be fully protected."
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