swiss activists advocated against GM crops

Switzerland’s social activist Teena Gothe expressed concern on the farmers’ plight in Orissa leading them to commit suicide. While speaking to the press at Sambalpur after retuning from worst affected Jamenkira block of the district, she appealed the civil society to form a pressure group for the survival of the farmers of the region.

“I have come from a country where only 3 percent of the population depends on agriculture. But government never overlooks them because most of the food grains and vegetables come from this sector. Contribution of farmers is always high in the development of a country. But here I experience a worst ever situation. When more than 80 percent of the population depends on this sector, government hardly address to their problems. Really it is quite unfortunate”, Ms. Gothe expressed.

Ms. Gothe has come to motivate the farmers to discard genetically modified (GM) crops as according to her the newly customized method has a very bad effect on the human beings in long run. She also said that genetically modified food needs few more experiments before government allows its production. “Researchers have apprehended a serious negative effect on human body in long-run incase of regular consumption of GM crops. GM crops has become a big threat for the survival of mankind. For the benefit and business motive of few big companies, government should not play with the lives of the crores of people of the country”, Ms Gothe told.

Sources said, Switzerland government was forced to put a ban on the production of the GM crops in the country following the pressure of the farmers and social organizations. “We fought a long battle with the government to get a ban order from the on the production of GM crops” Ms. Gothe told.

Gothe was accompanied with Biswadeep, a Bangalore based social activist and Ashok Pradhan local farmers association when she visited Jamenkira block area to meet the farmers on Wednesday.