Proponents of GMO seeds in Pakistan become active again

KARACHI, Dec 25 (Express Tribune): The debate on consuming genetically modified organisms (GMO) in agriculture has erupted once again in Pakistan.

Influential businessmen and representatives of some sectors of the agronomy are pressing the current caretaker government to allow the documented import and use of GMO seeds for producing cooking oil and preparing feed for chicken and cattle.

Earlier, many nations tested GMO seeds and banned their use in 2015 after finding them harmful for human consumption and environment.

However, the influential quarters in Pakistan have continued to push different governments to permit legal import of GMO seeds to serve their vested interests, but have remained largely unsuccessful so far.

They are now demanding that the interim administration introduce a policy for GMO seeds. For over a decade, these seeds are being brought into the country through mis-declaration, but are sometimes seized by the Customs during inspection.

Sharing the experiences of farmers who have used GMO and hybrid seeds, Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek (PKMT) member from Haripur District Asif Khan told The Express Tribune that there was a time when farmers used to mix the residue of cotton seeds, called cotton cake, to prepare feed for cattle.

However, they are now gradually abandoning the practice as their animals have been infected with a lungs disease. "A large number of small farmers in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) are of the view that the mixing of BT cotton cake is causing the disease in the cattle. They are now mixing wheat instead of cotton cake," Khan said.

He claimed that scientists had injected some kind of a poison into BT cotton seeds to save the crop from worms and insect attacks.

"There are some types of 'friendly worms'. But the poison kills them as well. Honeybees and butterflies stay no more alive after sitting on BT cotton flowers," he elaborated.

PKMT is working in 16 districts of three provinces - Punjab, K-P and Sindh - to look after the interest of small and landless farmers and help produce wheat and corn by planting organic seeds.

Khan revealed that GMO seed organisations had also introduced modified seeds of corn in some parts of Pakistan. "The oil extracted from such corn can only be used in vehicles and factories and even it is not fit for consumption by animals."