Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 22: Thousands of farmers from across India protested against the recommendations of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) and demanding latest technologies in Indian agriculture at Jantar Mantar here today. The rally led by the Consortium of Indian Farmers Association (CIFA) had participants from Shetkari Sanghatana, PAU Kisan Club, Naujawan Kisan Club, Nagarjuna Rythu Samakhya, Pratapa Rudra Farmers Mutually Aided Coop. Credit & Marketing Federation, amongst other leading farmer organizations.
Chengal Reddy, Secretary General of CIFA said, “Farmers confronts with several farm productivity challenges i.e lack of timely farm labour availability, high labour costs, insects, weeds, diseases, unpredictable water and nutrient availability. Biotechnology or Genetically Modified crop can offer several solutions to farmers problems. We need biotechnology and the right to choose and freedom to farm. We have full faith that the Supreme Court will do what is right for farmers who are in need of technologies to increase our productivity and personal prosperity.”
The farmer organizations stated farmers across India believe that the five members of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) have failed to recognize the significant contribution of technology to Indian agriculture and economy.
Farmers is other parts of the world now enjoy the benefits of seeds with built-in protection against harmful insects, herbicide and weedicides, enabling farmers to efficiently get rid of weeds while spraying herbicide which retain a healthy crop. They are able to grow crops with less water, use fertilizer and nitrogen more efficiently, which gives an advantage in times of climate change, erratic weather and scarce irrigation.
Dinesh Govindrao Sharma, Leader, Shetkari Sanghatana said, “With increase in our agricultural production and population of the economy, the amount of land on which farmers cultivate their crops has not increased. The amount of water which they receive to nourish these crops has further also not increased. Over the next decades, climate change will result in more pressure on farmers to get a good yield, with unpredictability in weather playing havoc with India’s agricultural system.”
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