Six years after a banned genetically modified (GM) Bt brinjal crop was destroyed in Haryana, the source of the seeds is still unknown. This has raised concerns among environmental activists and experts about the government’s approach to food safety.
The incident happened in Nathwan village, Fatehabad district, in May 2019. A farmer named Jeevan was found growing Bt brinjal on half an acre of land. Environmental activists raised an alarm, and the Haryana government promptly destroyed the crop to prevent contamination. However, the question of how these banned seeds entered the market remains unanswered.
Information obtained through Right to Information (RTI) requests shows that the government has not yet identified the source of the GM seeds. The Horticulture Department stated that they took the necessary steps within their power by destroying the crop. But activists believe the government’s response has been too casual.
Rajinder Chaudhary, a former professor, criticised the government’s claim that only one farmer was involved. He argued that a farmer cannot produce such seeds independently or have special access to proprietary seeds. “Neither can the farmer develop such seed in his backyard nor can he have a privileged relationship with seed developers to be bestowed exclusive access of growing their proprietary seed,” Chaudhary explained.
The commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal is banned in India. When the issue came to light in 2019, Haryana’s Biotechnology Coordination Committee recommended destroying the crop. The crop was then uprooted and buried.
Farmer Jeevan told authorities that he bought the brinjal saplings in December 2017 from a roadside vendor and was unaware they were of GM variety. The authorities did not find any information about the seed source in their records.
In response to an RTI query, the Environment and Climate Change Department mentioned writing to the Horticulture Department twice in 2019. However, the Horticulture Department did not provide details about the seed source or name any individuals against whom action could be taken. The Environment Department received no further communication on the matter.
In a separate RTI reply, the District Horticulture Officer, Fatehabad, identified the farmer but confirmed that no information was available about where he obtained the GM seeds. “In the year 2019, Bt brinjal was cultivated by a farmer, Mr. Jeevan, son of Mr. Ishar of village Ratia in Fatehabad district, and there is no information available in the office records about where this farmer got these saplings from,” the reply stated.
Ranbir Singh, Director General of the Horticulture Department, confirmed that details of the farmer were shared with the Environment Department. However, he admitted that the source of the saplings remained unknown. “We have taken the necessary steps under our ambit and power,” he said.
Farm and food activists are concerned about this “casual attitude” towards food safety. They fear that introducing genetically altered foods could contaminate the food chain. “The government is duty-bound to protect the environment and the health of consumers. However, it has failed on both counts as it has not taken action in the matter even six years later,” said Chaudhary, who is now part of Kudrati Kheti Abhiyan, a group promoting organic farming.
Activists like Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission, another organic farming advocate, stress the need for independent tests to confirm the safety of GM crops. They urge the government to prioritise environmental and health concerns related to transgenic food and prevent contamination of the food chain until safety is proven.