Farmers call for science-driven policy
Science based approach called for
Hyderabad: In the midst of an escalating national debate on the adoption of biotechnologically enhanced crops, including genetically modified (GM) crops, farmers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have stepped forward, urging a science-based approach to policymaking and asserting their right to choose advanced agricultural technologies.
Speaking at a press meet by the National Farmers Empowerment Initiative, progressive farmers made a compelling case for access to modern biotechnology, arguing that innovation is key to increasing productivity, securing livelihoods, and ensuring India's food security.
Farmers emphasised that the issue extends beyond science; it is also about their right to choose the best available technology, just as they do in other aspects of life.
With the global agricultural landscape rapidly advancing, they question why Indian farmers should be denied the same tools that their counterparts in countries like the United States, Brazil, and Argentina have long been using.
"Technology has always driven progress. Just as we moved from 3G to 4G to 5G in telecom and are now looking at 6G, agriculture must also evolve. Biotechnology is the future, and farmers should not be held back," said Vellangan Reddy, a cotton farmer from Gunturpally village in Telangana.
"We embraced Bt cotton, and it changed everything for us. Now, we want the same benefits for other crops. But instead of progress, we are stuck in a cycle of misinformation and political delays," he added.
Dyavari Narayana, farmer from Rudraram Village in Vikarabad district, who grows pulses, millets, high-density Bt Cotton, pointed out that while Indian farmers struggle with unpredictable weather, pests, and stagnating yields, their counterparts abroad are thriving with biotech crops that offer resistance to pests, drought tolerance, and higher productivity.
"The biggest issue is that decisions about farming are being made by people who have never stepped into a field. They spread fear without facts. Farmers should be the ones deciding what works best for us," he said. The demand for biotechnology is not just about improving yields, but also about food security.
