Dr John Fagan, a leading US-based bio-medical researcher, has warned that the increased incidence of cancer and birth defects in Punjab might have been triggered by genetically modified (GM) crops and excessive use of pesticides. Dr Fagan was in Punjab for five days and visited the worst affected areas. He was mostly in the rural rural areas of the Malwa belt to study the impact of such crops.

Fagan, a committed scientist who had refused to accept the US government's $ 1.6 million research grant to protest against the pushing of GM crops into the fields without sufficient research has been in the forefront in the battle to stop new GM seeds without adequate field testing and safeguards.
He finds certain GM crops to have 12 to 14 per cent less of cancer-fighting isoflavones identified by the US department of agriculture. Fagan said the GM crops could be highly disruptive for the ecosystem, leading to the loss of biodiversity and disruption of the food chain, resulting in long-term harm to the environment, economy and food security. This also resulted in soil pollution and increased incidence of cancer, birth defects and other diseases.

He said scientists as well as agriculturists in the US and some other countries had expressed serious concern about genetically engineered crops as bio-technological agriculture caused adverse effects on health. The mealy worm had come due to Bt cotton. Farmers across the US had resisted using genetically engineered seeds, but in India genetically engineered seeds were being used without assessing its impact.

Fagan said instead of following other countries blindly by introducing the GM crops, the Indian government should keep in mind that Western multinationals continued to attempt to cut losses by dumping such technologies in developing countries. Scientists have now developed much more effective and safer approaches, such as marker assisted breeding, which uses the most cutting-edge discoveries in modern genetic science to develop new and valuable crop varieties rapidly, economically and safely.

Suseol, a social scientist and wife of John Fagan, said Indian farmers should follow indigenous traditions instead of running after genetically engineered crops.

Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission, who has raised voice against multi-nationals dumping such hazardous technologies in developing countries was helping Dr Fagan to understand the real issues arising out of senseless and dangerous GM seeds.

Dutt said the Kheti Virasat Mission was of the firm view that farmers in Punjab should consider the issues related to GM and Bt crops. The Punjab government and agriculture institutions that were promoting these crops should also reconsider their stand. He urged farmer groups, consumer organisations and health professionals to join hands to stop the commercial release of Bt brinjal.

Meanwhile, according to some reports Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB) India Limited announces that approx. 4 million farmers cultivated Bollgard® II and Bollgard® Bt cotton on 172 lakh acres, or 76% of India's total 225 lakh cotton acres in Kharif 2008. Bollgard® II acreages increased to 45 lakh acres vs. 12.2 lakh acres in 2007, i.e. an increase of 268%, and Bollgard® continued to be widely adopted on 127 lakh acres. Bollgard® II has a superior double-gene technology that offers farmers better Insect Resistance Management (IRM), along with higher yield, more pesticide savings, and higher income.

Farmers in Punjab cultivated Bollgard® II and Bollgard® Bt cotton on 9.2 lakh acres of Punjab's total 10.58 lakh cotton acres. Bollgard® II acreages increased by 96% to 1.9 lakh acres vs. 0.07 lakh acres in 2007, and Bollgard® continued to be widely adopted on 7.3 lakh acres.

According to Raj Ketkar, Deputy Managing Director, Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB), "The rapid adoption of Bollgard® II and Bollgard® on 76% of India's cotton acreages is testament to farmers' appreciation of the benefits and superior value of the technology. Within six years of the launch of Bollgard® Bt Cotton in 2002, India's cotton production has doubled, making it the second largest producer, and second largest exporter of cotton in the world. We will continue to invest in educating Indian farmers on crop management practices, in line with our commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity. "

Bollgard® II and Bollgard® insect-protected cotton are widely planted around the world as an environmentally friendly way of controlling bollworms. In India, the highest growth for Bollgard® II was witnessed in Maharashtra with 21.6 lakh acres (up 70% vs. 6.3 lakh acres in 2007); Andhra Pradesh with 8.4 lakh acres (up 88% vs. 1.01 lakh acres in 2007); and Gujarat with 5.3 lakh acres (up 42% vs. 3.1 lakh acres in 2007).

Farmer Jaspal Singh from Muktsar, Punjab said, "This year I planted Bollgard® II on four acres vs. one acre in 2007. With Bollgard® II, I got a higher yield of 13 quintals per acre, better insect control, more pesticides savings and higher income. This has helped me to provide healthier food for my family and purchase cattle."

Dr. A.K. Dhawan, Senior Entomologist - Cotton, Dept. of Entomology, Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) added, "Bollgard® II double gene cotton technology offers the best protection against bollworms and is better for insect resistance management (IRM) Since the two Bt proteins, Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2, have different modes of action, the chance of resistance to both proteins in Bollgard II is highly unlikely, thus making Bollgard® II an effective tool in Insect Resistance Management. In fact, the US EPA has removed the need for 20 per cent refuge for Bollgard® II and if we do in India, we can further increase our cotton productivity."

In India, Bollgard® II acreages increased to 45 lakh acres vs. 12.2 lakh acres in 2007, i.e. an increase of 268%, and Bollgard® continued to be widely adopted on 127 lakh acres. The acreages have steadily increased from 87 lakh acres in 2006, to 144 lakh acres in 2007. The farmers have a choice from over 150 Bollgard® II and Bollgard® Bt cotton hybrid seeds. Within six years of the launch of Bollgard® Bt Cotton in 2002, India's cotton production has doubled, making it the second largest producer, and second largest exporter of cotton in the world.

Bollgard® Bt cotton (single-gene technology) is India's first biotech crop technology approved for commercialization in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard® II – double gene technology in mid-2006, by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) – the Indian regulatory body for biotech crops. These technologies were launched in India by Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech (MMB) a 50:50 JV between Mahyco and Monsanto Company, USA. MMB has sub-licensed the Bollgard® and Bollgard® II technologies to 23 Indian seed companies each of whom has introduced the Bollgard® technology into their own germplasm. Thus, they produce their own seeds with Bollgard® and Bollgard® II in-built protection against bollworms and spodoptera, leading to better boll retention, maximum yield, lower pesticides costs, and higher income. The rigorous scientific studies conducted in India and abroad demonstrate that Bollgard® and its products are safe for the environment, human beings, animals and agriculture.

BACK

 
China's curry king's next target India

A TAMILIAN who taught the mainland Chinese to eat curry is now eyeing India to expand his $ 74 million empire. But this time, Chettinad magnate Munuswamy Gnanavelu, 58, alias Antony, wants to serve the authentic Chinese fare he has eaten for 34 years in China.

Sorry, Manchurian will be off the menu. About three months ago, Antony, the founder of China's best-known Indian brand, the 24-restaurant chain, Indian Kitchen, registered the companies Chinese Kitchen and Kung Fu, in Chennai.

"I've been up and down India and found that Indian-Chinese food is not at all healthy or authentic Chinese cuisine,'' Antony told HT from his Zhuhai office in south China. A native of Thirukalukundram near Chennai, Antony started his first Indian Kitchen in 1990 in Macau.

Today he employs a staff of 1,600 Chinese, over 200 Indiansand also makes spices. "Indian-Chinese food is full of artificial colours, oil and chemicals like ajinomoto,'' he said.

"I will start my own plant in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu to process sauces and ingredients to serve healthy Chinese food.'' To open doors to business in India, Antony recently started two 'authentic' Chinese canteens for Chinese IT students in southern Vellore and Salem.

At the Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, the busiest canteen serves over 400 Chinese IT students. The next branch will open in Mysore, Karnataka.

"There are such wonders in Chinese food, even vegetarian and spicy dishes, which Indians are still not aware of,'' he said, adding that he will need two years to start Chinese Kitchen on a franchise basis starting with Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai. The Chinese Kitchen will have glass kitchens preparing dishes like spicy Sichuan Hot Pot and Wunan cuisine known as food for emperors.
"I have planned acupuncture, foot massage and tea corners in my restaurants,'' he said. Kung Fu will be a fast-food brand.

In China, Antony aims to coax the Chinese to eat curry once a day. He calls his next business plan 'curry in a hurry,' based on a vision of Chinese walking on the streets munching chapati rolls and sipping lassi.

Next month, he will head to India to plan his new Kitchen.

BACK

 
At least 100 rapes in Karachi a day

ON average, 100 women are raped every 24 hours in Karachi city alone, and a majority of them are working women. According to Additional Police Surgeon (APS) Dr Zulfiqar Siyal “A majority of them are working class women or those working as domestic help and are mostly up to 20 years old.”.

According to influential newspaper Daily Times the police officer said,, "I am saying with full authority that such a large number of rape cases happen in the city." His comments came on the sidelines of a discussion on sexual violence organised by the Aurat Foundation recently. "But very few rape survivors have the courage to come forward in search of justice."

They do not come forward because of the lengthy medical process and delayed justice system in Pakistan. Only 0.5 percent of cases are reported and the majority (99.5 percent) of survivors prefers to stay silent.

Part of the problem is that there are 11 medico-legal sections in three major public sector hospitals but there are only six women medico-legal officers (WMLOs) for the 18 million population of Karachi.

"I am sure that there are more than 100 rape cases every day ... but you can gauge how many are reported from the official data which says that during the last eight months (between January to August 2008) a total of 197 cases were reported," Dr Siyal said.The WMLOs also face a lot of problems, he said.

Karachi is also short on hospitals where rape survivors can go through the entire medical examination. "It isn't just medical facilities but you won't find a single women police officer (WPO) in any of the total 101 police stations of the city," he said.

Provincial minister Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto said though previous governments had passed legislation they were not implemented.

BACK