GMOs - Bt Brinjal (eggplant) field trials + PM's Farm Package + Wind Energy

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NEWS Bulletin from Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture And Rural Development ******************************** On GMOs----- 1. GEAC for SC order modification - Approves field trials for four Bt Brinjals (eggplants) Prime Minister's Rs 25,000 cr (Rs 250,000 million) farm package---- 2. Agri package ploughs state-wise plan 3. PM plays Santa on I-Day, offers something to everyone - Promises Rs 25k-cr (Rs 250,000 million) deal for rural India 4. PM pledges more equitable growth WIND ENERGY----- 5.

Indowind IPO plans to raise Rs 81 cr ------ GEAC for SC order modification Approves field trials for four Bt Brinjals (eggplants) http://www.financialexpress.com/news/GEAC-for-SC-order-modification/211074/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Saturday , August 18, 2007 at 0151 hrs IST New Delhi, Aug 17 The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), after approving field trials of genetically modified (GM) food crops for the first time, has decided to file an application for modification of the Supreme Court order of May 8, 2007. The Supreme Court in May 8, this year had stipulated that an isolation distance of 200 metre should be maintained during GM crops’ field trials. Prior to the field trials, the concerned company or the institution submit a validated event specific test protocol to detect at least 0.01% genetic contamination and confirm that there has been no contamination. According to minutes of the 79th GEAC which was made available on Friday, implications of the Supreme Court order was discussed in the meeting and the members authorised the chairman, BS Parsheera to file an application urging the apex court to modify its order. Deliberating on reports submitted by the GEAC sub-panel headed by the CICR director, BM Khadi and the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), members were of the view that a uniform isolation distance is not tenable as the nature of the pollen flow and level of

contamination depends on the biology of the crop and the host environment in which it is being cultivated. The GEAC noted that Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards’ Manual has prescribed different isolation distance for different crops depending upon its nature of pollination and the pollinating agents GEAC also resolved that when adequate biosafety measures are to be ensured, the need for a validated protocol to detect at least 0.01% genetic contamination may be dispensed with. However, while approving large scale field trials of four Bt Brinjal (eggplant) at five locations, the GEAC directed the developers to comply with the Supreme Court order, until iit is favourably modified. As per Khadi panel’s recommendations GEAC approved isolation distance of 300 metre for Bt brinjal. It also approved strip trials of Bt rice and contained field trials of ICRISAT’s transgenic groundnut and number of

field trials for Bt cotton. GEAC allowed pollen flow and biosafety studies to be conducted for Bt brinjal, Bt rice, Bt okra, Bt tomato and Bt cotton Prime Minister's Rs 25,000 cr (Rs 250,000 million) farm package---- Agri package ploughs state-wise plan http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Agri-package-ploughs-statewise-plan/210710/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Friday , August 17, 2007 at 0324 hrs IST New Delhi, Aug 16 The agriculture ministry has geared up to implement the Rs 25,000-crore (Rs 250,000 million) farm package, formally announced by Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh in his Independence Day speech. According to a senior official, the Rs 25,000-crore (Rs 250,000 million) package will have state-specific plans for overall development of the farm sector, including crop cultivation, plantation, dairy and poultry, livestock management, fisheries and forestry. Each state will have to submit their proposals, keeping in view their competitiveness in each segment of the sector. “The proposals submitted by the states would be ultimately vetted by the Planning Commission”, said the official. States will also be asked to render matching funds to the Centre’s assistance for the programme. The minister of panchayati raj institutions Mani Shankar Aiyer is, however, of the view that the state-specific road maps should be chalked out on the basis of plans formulated at district, block and panchayat levels.

On Thursday, agriculture secretary PK Mishra had a discussion with senior officials in the ministry on the implementation of Rs 25,000-crore (Rs 250,000 million) special programme announced by the Prime Minister. The government will rope in all the affiliated institutions of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for implementing the programme. The latest demonstrated technologies developed by ICAR institutes will be transferred to states. Director of National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NCAP) PK Joshi said, “This is a good approach for achieving inclusive growth in the rural sector and farm diversification. The state governments are in a better position to suggest their competitiveness in each segments of the farm economy.” Bharatiya Krishak Samaj leader Krishan Bir Chaudhary, however said, “The Prime

Minister had made no new deal for agriculture. Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250,000 million) package was earlier worked out by the Planning Commission and discussed at the National Development Council. Prime minister should make small farms more remunerative, instead of suggesting industrialisation as way to achieve economic growth.” ----------- PM plays Santa on I-Day, offers something to everyone Promises Rs 25k-cr (Rs 250,000 million) deal for rural India http://www.financialexpress.com/news/PM-plays-Santa-on-IDay-offers-something-to-everyone/210582/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Thursday , August 16, 2007 at 0356

hrs IST New Delhi, Aug 15 Promising to continue with its agenda of improving farm productivity, the government on Wednesday pledged Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250,000 million) to transform rural India. Speaking on the nation’s 60th Independence Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “We will soon launch a special programme to invest Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250,000 million) in agriculture to enhance the livelihood of our farmers and increase food production.” While the programme would focus on increasing food grain productivity all over the country, its main target would be the regions untouched by the first green revolution and drought-prone areas. “Our growing economy and population need more foodgrain,” he pointed out. The prime minister also emphasised that in the coming years the government’s main agenda would be to transform rural India. “Farmers are the backbone of our nation.

Unless they prosper, the nation cannot prosper.” The government has already carried out a number of measures to achieve this transformation such as doubling the supply of credit for farmers, reducing its cost, and has written off interest and rescheduled loans wherever farmers have been in distress. Singh also called for creation of new employment opportunities outside of agriculture, as there are limits to how much agriculture can be transformed by increasing the productivity of farmers and increasing their incomes. He said industrialisation was the most effective means of employment generation. “There is no developed country today anywhere in the world, that is not an industrial economy,” he pointed out. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on agriculture in his speech has once again pointed to the low performance of the sector. The share of agriculture in the country’s gross

domestic product has fallen to less than 20% now from over 50% in 1947, reflecting the decline in the sector from which about two-thirds of the country’s population derives livelihood. The government also wants to increase the share of agriculture in GDP to 4% from the present 1.8%. The UPA government has said agriculture is in a state of crisis and much needs to be done to improve its condition and increase productivity. Singh had earlier also said while an 8% growth rate in agriculture is attainable, it is not satisfactory. --------- PM pledges more equitable growth http://www.financialexpress.com/news/PM-pledges-more-equitable-growth/210634/ ASHOK B

SHARMAPosted online: Thursday , August 16, 2007 at 0138 hrs IST New Delhi, Aug 15 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday reiterated the need to work harder to free the country from poverty and disease, and to ensure equitable economic growth, while committing an additional Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250,000 million) to the farm sector. He also emphasised that the “best is yet to come”. “India cannot become a nation with islands of high growth and vast areas untouched by development, where the benefits of growth accrue only to a few,” he said on Wednesday from the ramparts of Red Fort in his Independence Day address to the nation. “We have moved forward in the many battles against poverty, ignorance and disease. But can we say we have won the war?” he asked during the 40-minute address. The Prime Minister’s stress on equitable growth and

higher spending on agriculture comes at a time when the government is concerned about the slowdown in the sector, which employs about 235 million people. India’s $854-billion economy has grown at an average pace of 8.6% in the past four years, making it the world’s second-fastest growing major economy. The government is working on a number of steps to boost farm output to 4% from the present 1.8% to achieve the targeted 10% GDP growth. The government will also help provide social security for senior citizens above 65 years, who are poor. It will widen access to education by setting up 6,000 new schools and help states start colleges in 370 districts, the Prime Minister said. He also vowed renewed efforts to promote industrialisation and build “first-rate infrastructure”, adding that the transition from an agrarian to an industrial economy was a difficult one. “We are a young

nation. Once unleashed, the energy of our youth will drive India onto a new growth path. However, we must not be overconfident. We have a long march ahead,” he said. Singh, whose government has completed three years, said he had a sense of satisfaction of having done well on many fronts, but acknowledged that the government had been slow in others. “We have had success on some fronts and setbacks on some others. But, there is no doubt that we have been steadfast in our resolve, firm in our convictions and resolute in our commitment to the welfare of the common man,” he said------- WIND ENERGY Indowind IPO plans to raise Rs 81 cr http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Indowind-IPO-plans-to-raise-Rs-81-cr/210990/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Saturday , August 18, 2007 at 0018 hrs IST New Delhi, Aug 17 The wind energy major Indowind Energy Ltd has planned to raise Rs 81 crore (Rs 810 million) through an initial public offer (IPO) later this month for its expanding business, including setting up a new wind farm project in Karnataka. The Chennai-based company will offer 1.25 crore (12.5 million) equity shares within a price band of Rs 55-65 per share. It will raise Rs 68.75 crore at the lower end and Rs 81.25 crore (Rs 812.50 miilion) at the higher end. The IPO will open from August 21 to 24. Indowind Energy chairman KV Bala on Friday said, “The money raised through this IPO will be invested in a plant at Chitradurga in Karnataka. The 9 MW

wind farm plant will cost Rs 49.5 crore plant. The company has acquired 125.23 acres land for this purpose.” On company's expansion programme he said, “Now we are restricted to only Tamil Nadu and Karnataka because of limited funds. But with time, we will move to other states like Rajasthan as well.” The company sells ready-to-buy wind farm projects as well as electricity to corporates and the state government concerned. -----

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