1.Big protests against GM in South India
2.Rajasthan farmers oppose agreements with Monsanto
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1.Big protests against GM in South India

Dear GMWatch

Please see the coverage of Southern Action on Genetic Enginering's letter to legislators and Ministers from South India. SAGE observed a GM Protest day in 21 cities across South India and Orissa. Over 10,000 citizens, farmers and environmentalists participated in these protests. Letters to over 600 legislators and 100 members of parliament from these states are being sent demanding a GM Free South India.

warmly
p v satheesh
...
Plea to make State GM-free
The Hindu, April 9 2011
http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/09/stories/2011040958160900.htm

*SAGE writes to Kiran seeking ban on trials of GE food crops

*'Bt-cotton harming biodiversity in villages and causing social, economic and health problems'

*Chief Minister urged to supply uncontaminated and non-Bt-cotton seed to farmers

HYDERABAD: The Southern Action on Genetic Engineering (SAGE), a forum fighting against introduction of genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered (GE) food crops in the region, has requested Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy to make Andhra Pradesh a GM-free State by banning trials and cultivation of GE food crops.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, convener of SAGE P.V. Satheesh said that Kerala government had brought in such a legislation last year to make the State GM-free. Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar had also stalled Bt-maize trials in that State questioning the permission given by the Union Environment and Forests Ministry.

He said that the Bt-cotton was harming biodiversity in villages and causing social, economic and health problems. Increase in investment, decrease in yield, health problems to farmers and labourers working in Bt-cotton fields and social conflicts between farmers and shepherds were proved in studies, he said.

Mr. Satheesh urged the Chief Minister to make Andhra Pradesh GM-free in the best interests of farmers and environment. "As farmers in South India are the largest growers of Bt-cotton, it is most appropriate to review its performance through an open public discussion and the State can take the lead."

He appealed to the Chief Minister to revitalise the State Seed Corporation and enforce their mandate to supply uncontaminated and non-Bt-cotton seed to all farmers.

He told media persons that they were also planning to organise a meeting with all stakeholders soon.
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2.Rajasthan farmers oppose agreements with agri MNCs
Press Trust of India, 8 April 2011
http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5108970

Jaipur - Accusing Rajasthan government of selling farmers' interests to multinational agri-business companies, farmers' organisation and NGO representatives today demanded from the state government to cancel its agreement, with companies like Monsanto.

They held a one-day meeting and passed a resolution against the agreements and demanded from the government to cancel its agreements with immediate effect to save farming and environment of the state.

"The agreements greatly increase the control and influence of these companies over agriculture section in the state which is quite against farmers. A particular MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] with Monsanto provides an indication of how deeply the future of agriculture in the state can be impacted by the agreements.

The agreements were made without consultation of Panchayti Raj institutions and farmers' groups, which is a cruel joke with the decentralisation process of PRIs in the state," Bharat Dogra, an activist, said at a press conference after the meeting.

Referring to the agreement document obtained through RTI [freedom of information request], he said: "The government of Rajasthan will help create an appropriate package of policies, rules and incentives to attract the necessary investments from private players."

"The government will make available land and facilities, wherever feasible for Monsanto to undertake proposed activities and will be helped in the establishment of infrastructure towards the fulfilment of the collaboration objectives, through access to relevant capital subsidy and other schemes of the government of Rajasthan".

"The agreement, made last year, will have wide-ranging impact on public interest. It must have been widely debated buts instead the government officials made the agreement," he said.

"We are objecting such agreements because the companies are tyring to make their profit only on the cost of environment and farming. Instead of promoting the company, the government must have supported local resources based farming," Dogra added.
"The companies are trying to create their base just to sell genetically modified crops which, as scientists have said worldwide, are harmful," he alleged.

Over 100 representatives from 14 districts were present in the meeting.

The state agriculture minister Harjiram Burdak could not be contacted for his comments.