Nagpur : As the debate over biotechnology in Indian agriculture intensifies, progressive farmers from Maharashtra are advocating for a science-driven approach to policy making and asserting their right to access advanced agricultural technologies. Addressing a press conference organized by the National Farmers Empowerment Initiative (NFEI), they highlighted the critical role of biotechnology in ensuring sustainable and productive farming.
Farmers from various districts echoed their demand for access to biotechnology, including genetically modified (GM) crops, arguing that they should have the same technological choices as people in other industries. The farmers refuted the myths regarding increased chemical use due to GM crop cultivation and insisted that the chemical inputs have gone down with the cultivation of GM crops across the world. They pointed out that farmers in countries like the United States, Brazil, and Argentina have long benefited from these technologies in increased productivity and sustainability, while Indian farmers remain deprived of similar advancements.
Amid the demand for biotechnology in various crops such as brinjal, mustard, watermelon, and soybean, farmers highlighted the importance of cotton and stressed the need to introduce new BT varieties as a vital component of their farming practices. Acknowledging Maharashtra Chief Minister’s initiative to establish the Maharashtra Technical Textile Mission (MTTM), the farmers stressed that cotton would be a key raw material for this ambitious plan and the mission would heavily rely on the state’s 30-40 lakh cotton farmers. In recent years, cotton productivity has plateaued or decreased due to challenge of pests and climate change and induction of newer technologies is urgently needed to combat these new stresses. To support this, they called for the introduction of advanced BT cotton varieties, which would enhance productivity and combat emerging pest challenges.
Ganesh Nanote, a cotton farmer from Akola, highlighted the growing resistance of pink bollworms to the Cry1Ac toxin produced by BT cotton. “While BT cotton has helped sustain our productivity, pests are evolving. It is crucial that India overcomes technological inertia and embraces new varieties that address modern agricultural challenges,” he said. He pointed out that countries like the United States, Australia, and Brazil have already adopted herbicide-tolerant BT (HTBT) cotton, and Indian farmers should be given the same opportunity.
The farmers emphasized that the issue extends beyond scientific evidence, it is about their right to choose the best available technology, just as they do in other aspects of life.
“I have been growing cotton for more than 30 years. When cotton production plummeted during the early 2000s, the introduction of BT cotton saved farmers and transformed India into one of the world’s largest cotton exporters. Biotechnology has proven its ability to bring prosperity to farmers and meet the increasing demand for food, fiber, and feed in India,” said Nemraj Jagannath Rajurkar, a progressive farmer from Khairgaon village, Yavatmal district.
Drawing from his experience, Rajurkar emphasized the transformative impact of biotechnology. “BT cotton revolutionized farming in India by reducing pesticide use and increasing yields. Yet, while we have seen its benefits in cotton, similar progress for other crops is being blocked. We want access to GM varieties of brinjal, watermelon, and soybean, but instead of progress, we are stuck in a cycle of misinformation and political delays.”
Prakash B. Puppalwar, a farmer from Yavatmal, emphasized that Indian farmers are confident and ambitious enough to compete with global benchmarks. “The aspirations of millions of farmers in India align with the vision of ‘Viksit Krishi for Viksit Bharat.’ To achieve this, we must embrace biotechnology as a means to increase productivity, improve resilience, and elevate our farming practices to match the best in the world. Indian agriculture has the potential to lead globally, provided we are given the right tools and technologies to unlock our true potential,” he said. “The biggest issue is that farming decisions are being made by people who have never stepped into a field. They spread fear without facts. Farmers should have the right to decide what works best for us,” he asserted.
Farmers urged policymakers to engage directly with them and understand their on-ground challenges rather than relying on external pressure groups. They argued that embracing scientific innovation is critical to ensuring India’s agricultural sector remains competitive globally. By enabling access to proven technologies, India can boost crop productivity, reduce input costs, and strengthen the rural economy. The call for action is clear—farmers seek a future where innovation drives agricultural progress, allowing them to thrive in an evolving economic and environmental landscape.
