RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has demanded the denotification of Bt cotton seeds and suggested adoption of indigenous technology to save the cotton sector. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, BKS general secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra announced that the organization demands Bt cotton varieties (BG-I and BG-II) be de-notified with immediate effect and seeks a complete ban on all GM crops in the country. The announcement comes as the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, is in India to hold discussions on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), where genetically modified crops are a major bone of contention. Addressing the media in New Delhi, Mishra stated that the decline in cotton production in the country was solely due to the adoption of Bt cotton in 2002 and called for a thorough investigation against those who have misled farmers by promoting misleading and false narratives in favour of Bt cotton.
The BKS has attributed the current crisis to Indian cotton prices declining significantly after the government abolished 11 per cent import duty till October 31. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Mishra stated that Bt cotton was never a high-yielding crop and has completely failed to control the pink bollworm (PBW) pest. He alleged that the introduction of Bt cotton has led to the disappearance of traditional and indigenous cotton varieties that were suited to India's diverse agro-climatic regions, resulting in a significant decline in overall production. The organization has threatened to launch agitation if the government proceeds with permission for the controversial herbicide-tolerant HT Bt cotton variety.
Farmer leader Shrirang Dada Lad, who has been recognized by the government with a Padma Shri for developing technology to increase cotton production, has proposed that cotton farmers need training in improved indigenous seeds and cultivation techniques to become self-reliant rather than relying on GM seeds. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, he stated that he is willing to provide nationwide training in this cotton production technology, which has been certified by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He urged the government to support efforts to make this technology accessible to all farmers, suggesting that India must return to its high-yielding indigenous cotton varieties and traditional agricultural practices to overcome the current crisis.
The BKS has raised serious concerns about the excessive use of chemicals in agriculture, stating that due to the influence and pressure of foreign companies, excessive use of chemicals in agriculture has made agricultural produce increasingly toxic. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Mishra called for a ban on the growing use of chemicals such as glyphosate and paraquat dichloride, warning that their use is causing diseases like cancer to assume epidemic proportions, which is a matter of serious concern for the general public. He shared a letter that BKS has written to the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking his intervention, terming the narrative being promoted by supporters of GM crops as misleading.
