tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post1848686977541052604..comments2024-03-28T16:09:44.638+05:30Comments on Ground Reality: How to push GM crops by strangulating regulationsDevinder Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867902048509662981noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post-85115139321344220592011-10-26T15:24:23.177+05:302011-10-26T15:24:23.177+05:30A very insightful and informative article. We have...A very insightful and informative article. We have as you say, "...the availability of a continuous surplus of 60 million tonne of food grains". And, we have much of it going down the drains for want of enough storage space, for want of enough care and concern amongst the authorities! And, we have millions of people struggling for two meals a day! Yes, it is time we woke up. Our policies and practices need some real diagnosis and treatment. Thank you.Kannan G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14155217534939973844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post-11059820507191412642011-10-25T09:53:48.700+05:302011-10-25T09:53:48.700+05:30Food Production is primarily dependent on availabi...Food Production is primarily dependent on availability & nature of land, water and energy. In our hurry we often embrace new technology tested in an entirely play field where the geo-physical and climatic conditions tolerate such actions for some time. We have already seen how rich African forests had been devastated for banana plantation.<br /><br />Genetic Resources exist in the form of a vast array of variety, breeds and bio-diversity of plant and animal populations which have evolved and adapted over many centuries, to the range of environmental conditions encountered throughout the world. The pressure of selection imposed by climate, soil type, altitude, available food supply, endemic diseases and parasites, management techniques and market demands have resulted in thousands of breeds, types of strains, each with their own genetic make-up, and each adapted to its own specific niche.<br /> <br /><br />In the past we saw that Plants and animals developed to improve one or two production traits under controlled conditions did produce when provided with high quality food, inputs and insulated from harsh weather, pests, disease and stress. But when these were distributed around the world, especially among small holders, the latter experienced a dramatic increase in demand for input which they could not meet with their limited resources. Imported varieties (GM, cross bred or upgraded) have not only, not stood the challenges of the new grounds, but have also brought with them diseases hitherto unknown in the developing world: Most of these were viral diseases whose diagnosis and control required high security labs and hi-tech diagnostic tools. (Dr.C.M.Singh, 2001)<br /><br />Staple food is that food that is eaten regularly in such quantities as to constitute dominant part of diet. Typically, staple foods are well adapted to the growth conditions of their source areas i.e. tolerant to drought, pests or soil low in nutrients. In the Indian sub-continent the staple crops are Rice, banana, bean, cow pea, citrus, cucumber, egg plant, mango, mustard, sugar cane*. In the past we had been thrusting plant varieties and technologies through subsidies at input stage and support price at output stage. Now we stuff our people with GM through propaganda materials handed generously by their promoters. They often are packed with generous with gifts, dinners, event managements and of course data generated (& often exaggerated) elsewhere. In the field of animal production this has already backfired (in US) with Eutrification, dung particles in drinking water, death of marine life in millions etc.. With investment opportunities on the decline in their home land these promoters/ investors find easy targets in our gullible (or are they corruptible?) leaders, bureaucrats, scientists or landlords.<br /><br />*Dimensions of need, 1994-95: An atlas of Food & Agriculture (FAO) ‘Labour demand for cropping is limited to 90-100 days / year; backyard livestock support livelihood all the year round.<br /><br />RamaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post-50966634759004615922011-10-17T21:58:10.340+05:302011-10-17T21:58:10.340+05:30Food Production is primarily dependent on availabi...Food Production is primarily dependent on availability & nature of land, water and energy. In our hurry we often embrace new technology tested in an entirely play field where the geo-physical and climatic conditions tolerate such actions for some time. We have already seen how rich African forests had been devastated for banana plantation.<br /><br />Genetic Resources exist in the form of a vast array of variety, breeds and bio-diversity of plant and animal populations which have evolved and adapted over many centuries, to the range of environmental conditions encountered throughout the world. The pressure of selection imposed by climate, soil type, altitude, available food supply, endemic diseases and parasites, management techniques and market demands have resulted in thousands of breeds, types of strains, each with their own genetic make-up, and each adapted to its own specific niche.<br /> <br /><br />In the past we saw that Plants and animals developed to improve one or two production traits under controlled conditions did produce when provided with high quality food, inputs and insulated from harsh weather, pests, disease and stress. But when these were distributed around the world, especially among small holders, the latter experienced a dramatic increase in demand for input which they could not meet with their limited resources. Imported varieties (GM, cross bred or upgraded) have not only, not stood the challenges of the new grounds, but have also brought with them diseases hitherto unknown in the developing world: Most of these were viral diseases whose diagnosis and control required high security labs and hi-tech diagnostic tools. (Dr.C.M.Singh, 2001)<br /><br />Staple food is that food that is eaten regularly in such quantities as to constitute dominant part of diet. Typically, staple foods are well adapted to the growth conditions of their source areas i.e. tolerant to drought, pests or soil low in nutrients. In the Indian sub-continent the staple crops are Rice, banana, bean, cow pea, citrus, cucumber, egg plant, mango, mustard, sugar cane*. In the past we had been thrusting plant varieties and technologies through subsidies at input stage and support price at output stage. Now we stuff our people with GM through propaganda materials handed generously by their promoters. They often are packed with generous with gifts, dinners, event managements and of course data generated (& often exaggerated) elsewhere. In the field of animal production this has already backfired (in US) with Eutrification, dung particles in drinking water, death of marine life in millions etc.. With investment opportunities on the decline in their home land these promoters/ investors find easy targets in our gullible (or are they corruptible?) leaders, bureaucrats, scientists or landlords.<br /><br />*Dimensions of need, 1994-95: An atlas of Food & Agriculture (FAO) ‘Labour demand for cropping is limited to 90-100 days / year; backyard livestock support livelihood all the year round.<br /><br />Rama<br />(by email)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com