He, however, stressed that Goan farmers are not involved in cultivating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or hybrid crops.
Speaking at a discussion after the screening of the documentary ‘The Seed War,’ Dr Singh answered queries about the state of crops in Goa, emphasizing that promoting hybrid crops is not on the department’s agenda. “Farmers in Goa are not really concerned about seeds. They don’t know that they can register their seeds and in turn reserve the rights of those seeds,” Singh said, emphasizing the need for farmers to use the department’s mega seed project as a means of preserving traditional seeds.
Singh also stressed the need for the government to frame a policy that encourages Goan farmers to cultivate home grown seeds, rather than relying on neighbouring states for the same. Currently the government imports seeds from Dharwad and parts of Maharashtra. “The Goa government provides seed subsidy to farmers, only for purchasing seeds from neighbouring states, but not for locally grown seeds,” Singh said.
Documentary director Clément Montfort’s film highlighted the plight of farmers in France, who have been subjected to regulations which impose control on the use of agricultural seeds. Five corporations that control half of the seed market are looking to spread their control, the world over, Montfort projects in the documentary.
Farmers are forced to invest in crops every year, thanks to the hybrid nature of the seeds that do not bear fruit for two seasons in a row.
Singh on the other hand insisted that hybrid and GMO crops were not the ICAR’s priority and that they are also working on changing the conservative attitude of farmers by organizing several awareness programmes in different
parts of Goa.
