Admits it is harmful for humans; decision on matter after technical report from agri varsity experts.
In a shocking revelation in the state assembly on Thursday, the Gujarat government admitted that it was aware that Monsanto maize has serious effects on human health and environment. The government also told the House that it would take appropriate action on the matter after getting technical opinion from experts.
Tribal development minister Mangubhai Patel said this to a question put by Congress MLA from Dharampur, Chhanabhai Chaudhari. Chaudhari asked how many complaints had been received by the tribal development department in last one year to ban Monsanto's maize seeds. The minister said that one complaint had been received.
In the second question, Chaudhari asked whether government was aware about the fact that the seeds of this company have serious effects on human health and environment. The government's reply was 'Yes'. The Congress MLA also asked what action government was willing to take in this regard.
The minister said that necessary action would be taken after getting technical opinion on the matter.
The tribal development minister also informed the House that 5.27 lakh tribal farmers had been given Monsanto's maize kits and that the production of maize had gone up in the farms. "We have called for the opinions of experts from agricultural universities in Anand, Navsari and Dantiwada. We will take a decision on the matter after studying their opinions," Patel said.
MLA from Limdi in Dahod district, Bachubhai Kishori, said: "This maize should not grow from next year. It doesn't get digested if taken as food. I am told that if it is consumed for a long time, the person becomes impotent. The maize grown from this seed might be good for chickens, but not for humans."
Another tribal MLA, Mohansinh Rathwa, who is also deputy leader of opposition Congress in the assembly, said: "Earlier, the government used to sell the kits to tribal farmers at Rs500. Now it is charging Rs1,100 for the kit of seed and fertilizer." On February 27, DNA had published a report that the state had given NOC to Anand Agricultural University for carrying out open field trials of Genetically Modified (GM) maize seeds without getting necessary
approvals from competent
government bodies.
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