Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Biodiversity too has to be safeguarded for future generations: activists -R Krishna Kumar

Biodiversity too has to be safeguarded for future generations: activists -R Krishna Kumar

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jul 26, 2014   modified Modified on Jul 26, 2014
-The Hindu


SAGE has raised demand to declare Mysore a GMO-Free City

Mysore: Being a region where organic and natural farming is popular, activists called for declaring Mysore a GMO-Free City (Genetically Modified Organism-Free City) more than three years ago.

The Southern Action on Genetic Engineering (SAGE) had raised the demand for a ‘GMO-Free Mysore' in keeping with Mysore's heritage character.

The activists had argued that just as the built heritage of a city had to be conserved for posterity, the rich biodiversity too had to be safeguarded for future generations. The activists drew inspiration from similar movements in France and Italy where there was wide-spread opposition to the introduction of GM crops in their vineyards.

GI tag

Mysore has similar traditions in agriculture and is known for its Mysooru Mallige, Mysore betel leaf, erangere badanekayi and Nanjangud rasabale, which had received Geographical Indication (GI) status, underlining their uniqueness and have a prominent status in the culture of the region. Hence, the activists had argued that introduction of GM crops posed a danger to local food habits and culture.

Sahaja Samruddha, an organisation which is mapping the paddy and rice diversity of the State, has created a network of over 500 farmers, who are striving to conserve the indigenous varieties of paddy and rice. It has also shifted from the conventional chemical-intensive agricultural practice to organic and natural form of cultivation as it is reckoned to be more environment-friendly.

‘Will ring death knell'

Krishnaprasad of Sahaja Samruddha explained that crop diversity was insurance against crop failure, which was a major issue in mono-culture. But the introduction of GM crops would ring the death knell of agricultural diversity, he added.

Vivek Cariappa, who took to organic farming more than two decades ago and settled in H.D. Kote, has argued that consequent to the introduction of Bt cotton, even the government has stopped patronising the indigenous hybrid variety and even the germiplasm of many varieties have not been preserved.

There are genuine fears that a similar fate will befall food crops as well. In addition, the safety of introducing GMO in food had not been established properly, he added.

 


The Hindu, 25 July, 2014, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/biodiversity-too-has-to-be-safeguarded-for-future-generations-activists/article6247612.ece


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close