EXCERPT: The farmers' organisations have criticised the move as 'surrendering the interests of Indian peasants to the multinationals based in US'.
---

Farmers bodies oppose Indo-US research initiative
ASHOK B SHARMA
Financial Express, February 18, 2006
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=117962

NEW DELHI, FEB 17: The proposed multi-crore India-US Knowledge Initiative in Agri Research and Education has run into rough weather with the farmers' organisations of the UPA coalition partners opposing the move.

The proposed collaboration in agri research and education was mooted in July 2005 during Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to US. Subsequently, a team of Indian agri scientists visited US in December 2005 to work out the modalities of the programme. A team of US agri scientists are now in Delhi to prepare the final action plan ahead of the expected visit of President Bush.

The farmers' organisations have criticised the move as 'surrendering the interests of Indian peasants to the multinationals based in US'. They have demanded that the government make the details of the programme public and initiate a debate in both the houses of the Parliament.

The joint initiative intends to develop new and commercially viable technologies for agricultural advancement in both countries. Efforts would be initiated for public-private partnership where the private sector can help identify research areas that have the potential for rapid commercialisation. Transgenic technology and genomics would be used for harnessing genetic potential of agriculturally important plant and animal species.

Speaking To FE, the executive chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj, Dr Krishan Bir Chaudhary said, "This agreement is against the interests of Indian farmers. High skilled Indian agri scientists who have so far been working for the interests of country's farmers will now be forced to work for the US agriculture and dance to the tune of multinationals. India would pour in huge investments only to facilitate the monopoly of multinationals."

Go to a Print friendly Page

Email this Article to a Friend

Back to the Archive