M. Kodanda Reddy
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission Chairman M. Kodanda Reddy has flayed the Centre for its approval and release of gene-edited rice varieties in the country. He demanded a moratorium on the release and commercial cultivation of gene-edited rice, pending independent scientific review and full public consultations with State governments, scientists, farmers and consumers.

In a letter to Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Chouhan on Tuesday, Mr. Reddy has expressed concerns over the decision, citing inadequate transparency and lack of comprehensive public consultation. He pointed out that States were not consulted, and previously, the Andhra Pradesh government had clearly expressed its rejection of genetically modified crops due to concerns over biosafety, environmental risk and the livelihoods of lakhs of farmers.

“As one of India’s largest rice-producing states, Telangana has much to lose from ecological or market disruption caused by such technologies,” he said, adding that consumers across the country had not been consulted on the implications of gene-edited foods entering the market, and there are currently no mandatory labelling guidelines for gene-edited products, denying consumers their right to informed choice.

He claimed that the introduction of gene-edited rice may contaminate native seed varieties, affecting export potential, especially to countries with strict GM-free import standards.

“Farmers may eventually be forced into dependency on proprietary seed technologies, threatening their right to save and exchange seeds under the PPV&FR Act,” he said, referring to the sad experience of cotton farmers with Bt cotton and illegal Ht Bt cotton as a grim reminder of the risks.

Stating that the decision will impact India’s food sovereignty and help the corporate interests, the former MLA urged the Union Minister to respect Telangana’s stance, halt further approvals, and uphold the rights of farmers and consumers alike.