Dear friends,
As you all know, a controversy is raging over the recent report of Intelligence Bureau (IB) stating that some foreign-funded NGOs are 'actively stalling development in India. Prominent NGOs like Greenpeace have flayed the IB report. Whereas, Association of Biotech Led
Enterprises-Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG)has welcomed the report and has stated that NGO activism has jeopardised investment of over Rs 10,500 crore from public and private sector.
Against this backdrop, here are press releases of both -- Greenpeace and ABLE-AG -- verbatim. I hope these make an interesting read in their original form and content.
Greenpeace press release:
‘Malicious Report Riddled with Mistruths’: Greenpeace India
June 19, 2014
New Delhi: Greenpeace India today rubbished allegations
made by the two IB reports that were leaked consecutively within one
week. Greenpeace India believes that this leak is a concerted effort by
parties with vested interest to ensure elimination of any opposition.
Since Greenpeace India has emerged as one of the primary voices opposing
coal mining and nuclear power projects, the NGO has been specifically
targeted to show the world, how the Indian government wants to crush any
kind of opposition.
"The strategy, it seems, is to discredit the organisation towards
the long term goal of removing obstacles for pushing fast clearances.
But discrediting Greenpeace will not save the world from climate change.
Ours is probably the last generation that can make a difference to curb
climate change," says Samit Aich, Executive Director, Greenpeace India.
Over the past few years Greenpeace India's activities has led to
anger among people in the government as well as corporate entities. And
the timing and the purpose of the leak seem very suspicious.
Such malicious reports however, will not stop Greenpeace India in
fighting for a better future. "They plan to create a wave of anger and
discontent amongst the public and over a quarter million supporters with
blatant lies and half truths. Both the reports are riddled with
mistruths and factual errors. We will continue to challenge fossil fuels
and dangerous technologies across the world and in India. We will
campaign for greater investments in ecologically sustainable, clean and
safe practices both in agriculture and energy, and demand for equitable
development," says Aich.
Such efforts to crush the spirit of individualism and social justice can never be successful.
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Worst fears on NGOs’ design come true in IB Report: ABLE AG
- Over Rs 10,500 cr public
and private sector investments in jeopardy due to NGO activism
- Sustained campaign led to
derailment of vital GM technology in India depriving millions
of Indian farmers of opportunity to enhance their economic and social
lives
- Report appropriately and
comprehensively exposes NGOs
New Delhi, June 20, 2014: The Association of Biotech Led
Enterprises - Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG) – an industry body representing agri
biotechnology companies has said that the recent Intelligence Bureau (IB)
Report on foreign funded NGOs confirms a
longstanding suspicion of the industry. The Report, says ABLE AG, “appropriately and comprehensively exposes how few NGOs are active against the economic, social, developmental interests of
India”. The
Association also lauded the subsequent action
by Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India to put on hold foreign
funding of some NGOs as these funds are reportedly being used for surreptitious
motives.
The report further highlights how these NGOs have diligently worked towards
derailing the diffusion of progressive crop biotechnology in India, which has seen benefits with millions of farmers across the
globe.
“Our crop yields and animal productivity is
one of the lowest globally. Blending
modern tools of biotechnology with conventional breeding is essential to
produce the required food, fodder, fiber and fuel per unit land area.
Technology introduction of genetic modification in crops should be evaluated in
the context of crops and traits in which traditional methods have reduced crop
improvements or would take too long to develop. Biotech applications in
agriculture may be used not in isolation but as a part of the package of
solutions to address the economic and social needs of a growing population,”
said Ram Kaundinya, Chairman, ABLE AG.
Today Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Andhra
Pradesh and Maharashtra are among the most progressive states in the country because
they took the lead to undertake R&D in Bt Cotton and its subsequent
introduction, which helped lakhs of farmers to gain enormous benefits.
“It is a pity that
just when the country was about to take further steps in deploying
biotechnology in more crops the unfortunate moratorium on Bt Brinjal was
imposed in 2010, under pressure from the same NGOs,” he added.
As a result, R&D activities in GM crops
by both public and private sectors were put on hold since 2010, causing
enormous delay in making these technologies available to farmers. There are over 50
applications for initiating biotech research and field trials of various
biotech enabled crops pending with the GEAC. At stake is over Rs 8,000 crore
invested in research in the sector by public sector institutions over the past
five years. The private sector which is being increasingly maligned too is
investing about Rs 2,700 crore a year into research. This is research that is
being conducted by Indian researchers, in India, for the Indian farmer.
“We urge the
Narendra Modi government to ensure that the process of research including
open-field trials under the supervision of existing regulatory bodies does not
get halted. Field trials are parts of research to ensure that the data
generated helps to scientifically evaluate bio-safety, food safety and the
efficacy of the genetically modified seeds, and any attempt to discourage such
tests conducted under strict supervision of the regulators is a retrograde
step,” Kaundinya added.
ABLE AG strongly advocates adoption of
biotechnology for the benefits of farmers and food security of the country. We request
the government to take all possible measures for the fearless promotion of
suitable technologies that will help the nation to develop in different spheres
of economy. Many traits like WaterUse Efficiency, Salt Tolerance and Nitrogen
Use Efficiency in addition to Insect Resistance and Herbicide Tolerance are
waiting to be deregulated so that the country can derisk the lives of millions
of farmers.
India’s population is expected to reach 1.5
billion by 2025 and additional food is needed. Crop improvement solely by
conventional methods to enhance food production by 2050 would be inadequate.
Crop losses due to climatic conditions, pests, diseases and declining soil
fertility, should be additionally factored in.
ABLE-AG strongly
refutes the allegations of the four NGOs
that the corporates influenced the IB report and dismisses them with
utmost contempt that they deserve. This kind of malicious propaganda is aimed
at tarnishing the image of premier Institutions like the IB.
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