07.05.2013 | permalink
Reacting strongly to state agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil’s admission that the genetically modified Bt cotton had brought no benefits to the farmers but on the other hand seed companies were thriving on it, Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari said that time has come to at least stop the introduction of GM seeds in food crops. “Around 5 million people in Maharashtra depend on cotton cultivation that is done in 41 lakh hectares. Now, the state government has finally admitted that Bt cotton is adding to farmers’ distress even as 95% of them are using the MG seeds. The question now is who will bell the cat? Is there no way to stop the onslaught of GM seeds,” asked Tiwari.