Organic farming planned in Andamans
By G. Venkataramani



CHENNAI, MARCH 7. The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) is preparing a
strategy for organic farming in the country. It has also programmes to make the
post-tsunami Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the largest organic farming islands
in the world, according to the NCF Chairman,M. S. Swaminathan.

Inaugurating a four-day inter-disciplinary dialogue on `Biotechnology and
Organic Farming' at the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) here
today, Prof. Swaminathan emphasised the need for an evergreen revolution to
enhance productivity in perpetuity. It would focus on integrating all natural
resource management practices and follow the participatory research mode with
farming families, without endangering the ecological foundations, he
explained.Delivering the keynote address, Bernward Geier, Director,
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), said that the
organic farming concept was totally holistic and it could not co-exist with
"genetically manipulated" organisms (GMOs). The GMO was unconditionally banned
in organic agriculture and food processing. He was critical of the "golden rice"
rich in vitamin A. As much as 9 kg of the rice is needed for a grown-up
individual to meet the vitamin A requirements. "Food security is the biggest
issue in our society, and unethical scientific claims should not be allowed to
interfere with it.

The MSSRF Executive Director, M. Velayutham, said the dialogue would be an ideal
platform to resolve contentious issues in the area of organic farming and
biotechnology. The Programme Director, MSSRF, Sudha Nair, spoke. About 50
participants are attending the workshop, organised by the MSSRF and IFOAM, NCF
and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/08/stories/2005030811921200.htm



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