-
All decisions related to agricultural
technologies should be taken after stakeholder consultations.
-
Genetic engineering and other
agricultural technologies should be adopted keeping in mind the rural reality
of India and respecting cultural and religious values.
-
This technology may have positive as well
as negative impacts. Adoption should be on a case-by- case basis.
-
Utmost caution is needed before promoting
Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops. Food crops should not be engineered.
-
A comprehensive review of Bt Cotton
performance is necessary before proceeding further with this technology.
-
There is an urgent need to restore and
reorganize the agriculture extension service system. Extension workers need to
be educated and trained in the latest technologies including GM crops and
foods.
-
GE technology and other agriculture
related technologies should be adequately tested keeping in mind scientific
and socio-economic impacts before adoption. The burden of risk of inadequately
tested technologies should not be placed on the farmer.
-
GE crop research should be conducted only
by the public sectors so technology remains in the public domain.
-
Any new crop variety should be evaluated
in both economic and ecological contexts. Harming either will be
unsustainable and result in long term socio-economic damage.
-
India should not adopt herbicide tolerant
crops since these will have negative socio-economic impacts on the farming
community.
-
Policy formulation and implementation
must be done with inter-ministerial coordination and with significant
participation of farmers, NGOs, seed industry, political parties and
scientists.
-
GE technology is not a replacement for
conventional breeding. Significant investment must be made in conventional
breeding.
-
Large-scale awareness and education is
necessary among farmers and all stakeholders before adopting GE technologies.
Information materials in regional languages must be prepared and disseminated
widely.
-
India should adopt a policy like other
countries to ban GE crops in their Centres of Origin. There should be no GE
rice in India.
-
A Citizens Commission should be set up to review the relevance of agricultural
technologies for the country.