Telangana has strongly opposed the approval of gene-edited rice in India, raising serious concerns over its impact on farmers, food safety, and biodiversity.
On Tuesday, M Kodanda Reddy, Chairman of the Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission, sent a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan. In it, he urged the central government to immediately stop any further clearances of gene-edited rice varieties.
Reddy criticized the decision-making process, saying it lacked transparency and didn’t include proper public or state-level discussions. “Neither the states nor the consumers were consulted,” he said, warning that such major decisions must involve those directly affected.
He pointed out that Indian consumers are becoming more aware of food safety, and many are worried about genetically modified (GM) and gene-edited foods, especially in vital crops like rice. He stressed that there are no mandatory rules for labeling gene-edited products, which denies people the right to make informed choices about what they eat.
Reddy also warned that gene-edited rice could seriously damage Telangana’s rice economy. The state supports over 1.5 million paddy farmers and plays a key role in supplying rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He fears that introducing gene-edited rice could lead to the contamination of native seed varieties, harming exports to countries that ban GM foods.
He also raised concerns about seed sovereignty, saying farmers might become dependent on companies that own proprietary seed technologies. “This could strip farmers of their right to save and share seeds, which is protected under the PPV&FR Act,” he said. Reddy pointed to the troubled experience of cotton farmers who suffered losses after using Bt cotton and Ht Bt cotton as a cautionary tale.
The Commission has called for a complete halt on the release and commercial farming of gene-edited rice. It wants an independent scientific review and full public consultations with state governments, scientists, farmers, and consumers before any further steps are taken.
“India’s agricultural strength lies in its rich diversity of crops and the innovation of its farmers,” Reddy added. He warned that introducing irreversible genetic changes to staple crops like rice, without the agreement of states like Telangana, could have long-term consequences.
He urged the central government to respect Telangana’s concerns and protect the ecological balance, public health, and the rights of farmers and consumers across the country.
