Nod for animal feed import triggers unease among farmer outfits
In India, DDGs are extracted from maize and rice as a byproduct, but its quality is not suitable as feed for broiler chickens and dairy cattle. The US has better quality and cheaper DDGs — a high-protein byproduct of corn ethanol production.
Addressing a press conference, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said DDGs were included at the suggestion of the country’s animal husbandry sector. Farm groups also questioned allowing the import of soybean oil, saying US produces a transgenic variety of soybean. The import of soybean oil will adversely impact millions of soybean farmers, they said.
The RSS-linked Bharatiya Kisan Sangh too sought clarification on the issue.
“We strongly oppose the import of GM food and feed products from the US under the garb of this trade agreement, particularly soybean oil and DDGs which would mostly come from GM maize,” said Krinkumar Vissa and Kavitha Kuruganti of ASHA-Kisan Swaraj.
The minister said that after processing, all GM traces are erased and the oil already being imported and consumed in the country follow the same process.
NEW CONCERN
Referring to the joint statement that says “India also agrees to address long-standing non-tariff barriers to the trade in US food and agricultural products”, they said, “this is coded language for lifting restrictions on GM food crops and products that have been in place in India”.
The farm outfit also said the import of DDGs and red sorghum will impact the incomes of millions of farmers growing crops used for fodder and feed for animals and poultry. Mohini Mohan Mishra, all-India general secretary of BKS, said govt should present its position on this with more clarity.
Goyal said the agreement makes it clear that GM food will not be allowed into India. On allowing import of DDGs, he said that after processing, the characteristics of genetic modification are eliminated.
Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “As the agriculture minister, I can say with pride that the interests of our farmers have been fully safeguarded, whether it is with regard to basmati, rice, spices or textiles.”
Chouhan added, “As per the agreement reached with the US under the PM’s leadership, all our crops are safe. No maize, wheat, rice, soybean, poultry products, milk, cheese, ethanol, fuel or tobacco will come from US.”
Complied by Poultry India media: Reference; Jan - Feb: The Times of India
