For more on the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India, January 16-21 see: http://www.wsfindia.org/
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Genetically Engineered Food Tech Will Not Eliminate Hunger
ASHOK B SHARMA
The Financial Express, January 12 2004
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=50321

NEW DELHI, JAN 11:  Genetically-modified technology is not the answer to eliminate hunger. Hunger and malnutrition primarily exist not due to lack of production but due to lack of access and distribution of food, said the president of Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security, Devinder Sharma.

Mr Sharma, who is slated to chair the session on land, water and food security in the World Social Forum Conference scheduled to be held in Mumbai from January 16, told FE, "the slogan of GM food as the means to eliminate hunger and malnutrition is being spearheaded by USAID only just to benefit the multinational companies. Unfortunately, what is being conveniently overlooked is the fact that hunger and malnutrition primarily exist not due to lack of production but due to access to food and its proper distribution. The paradox of plenty and surplus at a time when millions starve, is a valid pointer to flawed policies."

He said that India is self-sufficient in foodgrain production and yet there are reports of hunger and starvation pouring in regularly from the infamous Kalahandi district and more recently from Kashipur in Orissa.

The region, with a population of some 20 million, suffers from pangs of hunger and malnutrition despite any visible signs of ecological devastation. Kalahandi is otherwise a fertile tract and has traditionally been a basket of food. So much so that in 1943, at the time of the Bengal famine, Kalahandi had come to the rescue of the famine stricken Bengal, he said and justified that the problem is not with the means of boosting production through conventional means.

Mr Sharma said that it would be ridiculous to suggest that farmers in Kalahandi should cultivate GM crops to save themselves from starvation. What is not known is that Kalahandi region is the biggest contributor of surplus rice to the central food reserve.

Between 1996 and 2001, Kalahandi has been providing some 50,000 tonne of rice surplus on an average to the central food reserve. The reason why people die ofstarvation and hunger is not because there is not enough food but because they cannot afford to buy the food they produce. Genetically modified technology has no mechanism to ensure that food comes within the reach of these poorest of the poor, he said.

He said that some 12 million people suffer from vitamin A deficiency in India alone, world over the number is some 68 million. The industry, therefore, is clamouring that it has a viable answer to fight micro-nutrient deficiency. But this claim is totally false.

Citing an example Mr Sharma said that under Indo-Swiss collaboration, 'golden rice' technology was made available to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian department of biotechnology. This project is funded to the tune of $ 2.6 million for a period of 7 years and aims to engineer pro-vitamin A genes into local varieties of rice. In this context, Mr Sharma alleged "this ICAR’s tryst with ‘golden rice’ is in reality a blind experimentation and a desperate attempt to regain its lost pride in agricultural research."

He said that ICAR suffering from a credibility crisis in the absence of any significant breakthrough after the initial phase of green revolution, is trying its best to distract attention from pressing problems confronting the rural society.

Thousand of farmers have committed suicide in several parts of the country since 1987, the ICAR has remained a mute spectator. But when it comes to GM technology, ICAR gets hypersensitive and leads the industry's march.

Majority of the acutely malnourished people in the country who are extremely poor have no means to purchase this 'golden rice' which would be sold in the premium market, he said and added "if these poor people cannot afford to buy normal rice, how will they be able to buy 'golden rice' is a question that has been conveniently overlooked."

Mr Sharma also said that human body needs an adequate level of fats to absorb the fortified nutrients. The poor and hungry are those who lack enough body fats and, therefore, will not be able to take the advantage of this 'miracle' nutritious food.  He also alleged that the government instead of continuing its policy of food security is now thinking of dismantling the procurement and distribution system.  

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