25/07/2024
Seeking endorsements on a letter to Union Agri Minister against two Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Rice varieties launched by ICAR
Earlier this week, we circulated another letter addressed to ICAR, about several MOUs it had signed with corporations like Bayer, Syngenta and Amazon. Close to 450 of you endorsed that letter. Thank you! This current letter is on another matter of concern.
It is on the release of two varieties of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) basmati rice by ICAR in June 2024. These varieties can now withstand the spray of Imazethapyr, a weedkiller toxin.
The adverse environmental, health and socio-economic issues related to HT crops have been well-debated already in India and abroad, and most countries do not allow HT crops for cultivation. Moreover, what ICAR has done is illegal as per the extant statutory regulatory framework with regard to pesticides/herbicides.
Please find a letter we are going to send in this regard to the Union Agriculture Minister with a copy to Union Environment Minister in the google form on this link. If you believe that the two HT basmati rice varieties should not be allowed for commercial cultivation, please endorse the letter by filling the google form by July 26, 2024.
The following letter is to be sent on July 27, 2024 to Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and copied to Shri Bhupender Yadav, Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The letter expresses concerns on two Herbicide Tolerant ...