Contact : Dr Suman Sahai

email : mail@genecampaign.org 
 

01 April, 2010

PEOPLES’ PERCEPTIONS ABOUT GM CROPS AND FOODS

Report of a three year multi agency research study led by Dr Suman Sahai , Gene Campaign and Prof E Haribabu, University of Hyderabad. 

As public controversy grows around GM crops, countries have made attempts to study the underlying reasons for the acceptance/rejection of this technology by the public. There is a reasonable understanding of the attitudes and perceptions to GMOs in developed countries where studies are ongoing, but not so in developing countries.

Until now, there has not  been a single authentic, scientific study assessing the public’s attitude to agricultural biotechnology in India.

In order to gain an understanding of the Attitudes and Perceptions towards GMOs in India, Gene Campaign and the University of Hyderabad , along with research partners undertook a systematic public perception study on GMOs. The overall goal of this first ever study in India is to contribute towards formulation of a meaningful and transparent public policy around biotechnological innovations in India, which takes into account public perceptions and attitudes. It should be seen as the first effort in an ongoing process of longer term monitoring of attitudes to agricultural biotechnology, tracking changes in such perceptions and attitudes over time and assessing public acceptance/ rejection of new biotechnology products.

Research methodology

The research was conducted in 5 states, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Jharkhand and Assam, spreading the samples across north, south, east, west and northeast India, to make it representative. Andhra Pradesh and Maharshtra have been cultivating Bt cotton since 2002-2003 so are exposed to GM technology. Jharkhand and Assam do not cultivate cotton and hence have no exposure to GM technology. Punjab considered the quintessential “agriculture state” of the country, known for its early adoption of the green revolution and intensive agriculture practices, has both Bt cotton and non cotton growing regions.

The research aimed to  study the perceptions of farmers and consumers (and other stakeholders) to GM crops and foods. Over 800 farmers were studied per state leading to a total sample size of over 4050 farmers.

Consumer responses were studied in one city per state  : 500 consumers each in Hyderabad , Nagpur , Chandigardh, Ranchi and Jorhat were evaluated for their perceptions , leading to a sample size of over 2500 consumers.

In addition to the quantitative study, qualitative studies were also conducted using established social science methodologies to gain further insights.

The research team was led by Dr Suman Sahai and Prof Haribabu, supported by Mr. Bhaskar Mahanta ( North East Centre for Rural Livelihood Research), Dr. B K D Raja (Samaj Vikas, Hyderabad) , Prof Ajay Dandekar (IRMA) , Prof. Ramesh Sharan ( Ranchi University) Prof Amrit Srinivasan, Ms Geet Lamba and Mr Kuldeep Singh (PAEDIA and Punjab University), Mr Ranjit Singh (Bhasha Research and Publication Center, Gandhinagar)

To keep out the contentious vocabulary of ‘GM’ from the study, we presented approximations of GM crops to get at really basic attitudes and perceptions to unconventional and novel crops and foods as is presented by GM crops.

GM crops and foods were presented as crops and foods that were different to conventional crops and food because they had been changed in some fundamental way. 'GM" seeds were presented as new varieties of seeds produced by a process which could introduce parts of plants, animals or insects to provide some useful attribute such as improved nutrition or better ability to fight pests and control weeds.

Herbicide tolerant crops ( GM crops that can withstand application of herbicides that will kill surrounding flora)  and which are promoted as  facilitating weed control, were assessed using indirect questions like whether farmers would use seeds that required chemicals  that were effective herbicides and would control weeds effectively, but would also destroy surrounding vegetation.

To assess if people would like to eat  GM foods, we asked whether they would eat food that was cultivated from new types of seeds in the development of which  parts of animals or insects had been used.  continue..                  

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