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THE HINDU CHENNAI THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 OPED 9 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE A wake-up call on proprietary seeds The anatomy of a How India can shift its agriculture from a high-yield ideal to a high-value one marginalised region “improved”, proprietary varieties . Currently, in the garb of protecting With a high percentage of Muslims, Bihar’s Seemanchal this diversity against biopiracy, India region frames issues of representation and welfare is preventing its effective use, man­ agement and monetisation for the political ghettoisation of Muslims have given benefit of its farmers. rise to identity politics in Bihar. In recent Mrinalini Kochupillai & Second, an immutable record­ years, polarisation has demonstrated that a Gregory Radick keeping system, perhaps blockchain party can secure majority votes without ac­ or DLT, is needed to break the link commodating Muslims. Such political non­ between the profitable and the pro­ mobilisation of Muslims has resulted in two When the news broke that PepsiCo prietary. Such a system would allow Shahana Munazir things. One, it has led to the idea that Mus­ was suing small farmers in India for India and its rural communities to lims are a homogenised community who growing a potato variety that is used keep proper track of where and how root their politics in religion. Two, it has led in its Lay’s chips, popular sympath­ their seeds/propagation materials In the ongoing general election, Seeman­ to Muslims relegating themselves to the ies immediately went, of course, to and the genetic resources contained chal, a historically neglected and yet socially background of active politics. the farmers. National and interna­ therein are being transferred and and politically significant region in Bihar, has tional pressure swiftly mounted, and traded. It would also ensure, through once again registered a high voting percen­ A welfarist agenda in short order a humbled PepsiCo smart­contract facilitated micropay­ tage. Comprising four districts — Purnea, Ka­ This should stop with Seemanchal . Despite backtracked, announcing its with­ ments, that monetary returns come tihar, Kishanganj and Araria — Seemanchal constituting a high percentage of the voting drawal of the lawsuit. There was glo­ “Where farmers could be using genetically distinctive seeds adapted to local in from users and buyers of these has a population of about 1 crore. It assumes population in the region, Muslims have not bal schadenfreude at Goliath’s PR conditions, they are adapting local conditions to use genetically standardised seeds, from around the globe. These sociopolitical significance owing to the large been able to assert themselves. As a result, disaster and, in India, pride at being seeds, to ruinous effect.” A farmer in Jammu. * REUTERS monetary returns would effectively proportion of Muslims in its population. On parties have used them as bait to get para­ on the side of the righteous Davids. incentivise continuous cultivation average, these districts have 47% Muslims as chute candidates elected. These candidates What should not be a source of source of the seeds is. This broad productive material that does not ful­ and improvement of indigenous against Bihar’s Statewide average of 17% and secure votes in the name of protecting a mis­ pride, however, is the fact that so ma­ permission (called farmers’ privi­ fil the variety definition... that there seeds on the one hand, and ensure the all­India average of 14%. In this election, understood and universal idea of ‘Muslim ny small farmers are, like the ones lege) is considered indispensable for could be benefits of using such di­ sustainable growth of agriculture of the nine Muslim candidates who have identity’ and not to improve their welfare in targeted by PepsiCo, reliant, directly so­called seed sovereignty, which verse material… to reduce the spread and of rural communities on the been chosen by different parties in Bihar, the region. For example, Asaduddin Owaisi’s or indirectly, on proprietary seeds. has become synonymous with per­ of diseases, to improve resilience other. five are contesting from constituencies in All India Majlis­e­Ittehadul Muslimeen (AI­ Typically these seeds are grown in mitting farmers to save, sow, multip­ and to increase biodiversity.” Accord­ Third, and as a key pre­requisite to Seemanchal. The region is a fertile ground MIM) contested in the region in the 2015 As­ high input (fertilizer­pesticide­irriga­ ly and use proprietary seeds, as well ingly, the regulation removes the le­ the execution of the first two plans , for political parties that pit Hindus against sembly election, but it failed to win even a tion) environments that, over time, as proprietary vegetative propaga­ gal bar on marketing of “heteroge­ India’s invaluable traditional ecologi­ Muslims. single seat. Yet, again the AIMIM has pinned erode local biodiversity. Between the tion materials such as what are used nous materials” and encourages its cal knowledge systems need to be re­ its hopes on Akhtarul Iman from Kishanganj expense of buying these seeds and for the cultivation of potatoes. Des­ sale for organic agriculture, thus vived and made a part of mainstream Continued neglect this time. These Muslim parties have failed to inputs, and the loss of the skills and pite the shift away from seed replace­ clearing the way to much more ex­ agricultural research, education and It may have political and symbolic value, but gain a stronghold in the region because Mus­ social relationships needed to do ment to the right to save seeds, the pansive use of indigenous varieties. extension services. Know­how con­ Seemanchal fares poorly on welfare indices. lim voters have opted for a welfarist agenda otherwise (through the saving and emphasis remains on proprietary Once the delegated acts under the tained in ancient Indian treatises like It is an example of political apathy towards and not one that is centred on their religious exchange of seeds of indigenous va­ seeds that have narrow, uniform and EU regulation are formulated, they the Vrikshayurveda and the Krishi the minorities. According to Census data, the identity alone. rieties), small­scale farming looks set non­variable genetic builds. Where will support the creation of markets, Parashar falls within the scope of average literacy rate of the four districts is Further, even within the Muslim com­ to continue on its downward spiral of farmers could be using genetically especially markets and marketplaces what international conventions such 54% as against Bihar’s average of 64%. The munity, there is marginalisation of backward lower income, status and dignity. distinctive seeds adapted to local facilitating trade of heterogenous as the Convention on Biological Di­ average per capita district GDP of the region Muslims such as the Pasmandas who are re­ conditions and farming traditions, seeds, including by small farmers versity refer to as ‘indigenous and is ₹10,000, while it is ₹14,574 for the State. In presented not by their own but by the upper It’s time for a paradigm shift they are instead adapting local condi­ who are currently the most active in traditional technologies’. The revival districts with a higher density of Muslims, caste Ashrafs. Since the 1990s, the assertion No one can blame farmers for think­ tions and traditions in order to use maintaining and improving such of these technologies is central to the situation is worse. For example, in Kish­ of rights by groups such as the Pasmanda ing that proprietary seeds are better. genetically standardised seeds, to seeds in situ. Indeed, multimillion­ promoting sustainable ‘high value’ anganj, with a 68% Muslim population, near­ Muslims paved the way for inclusivism and Since the days of the Green Revolu­ ruinous effect. Euro research and innovation pro­ agriculture, not least because of the ly 50% live below the poverty line. social justice. In this context, Seemanchal tion, agricultural extension officers — It is time for a paradigm shift. To jects being invited and funded by the growing global demand for organic The socioeconomic indicators may be can be a fertile ground for the emergence of the field representatives of agricultu­ get a sense of what can be done, it EU already aim to make this diversity and Ayurvedic products. woeful, but there has been remarkable en­ rights­based politics. The struggle of Pas­ ral modernity — have taught farmers may be useful to take a peep into re­ a more integral part of farming in Eu­ The withdrawal of the lawsuit by thusiasm in electoral participation, seen in mandas and their under­representation in to buy ever­higher­yielding seeds . cent regulatory efforts in Europe. rope. And here they are talking only PepsiCo may be a welcome relief to the last six general elections. This year, See­ politics have been largely ignored . In See­ Taking this science­and­industry­ The EU Regulation on Organic Pro­ of the diversity within Europe. several farmers who can neither af­ manchal saw a voter turnout of 64.8%, manchal, though Pasmandas constitute two­ know­best stance on seed quality a duction and Labelling of Organic ford to defend themselves in court, which was much higher than Bihar’s average thirds of the Muslim population, there is no little further, efforts have been ongo­ Products, adopted in 2018, for the Minimise harm, maximise gain nor to abandon the cultivation of of 58.6%. In the last five general elections, Pasmanda candidate for the elections. Late­ ing, albeit unsuccessfully due to first time permits and encourages, How can a biodiversity­rich nation proprietary varieties. It must, howev­ the average voter turnout in Seemanchal was ly, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP pressures from farmers and NGOs, to inter alia, the use and marketing for like India shift its agriculture from a er, be a wake­up call to the govern­ around five percentage points more than the have espoused concerns about backward pass a new seed law in India permit­ organic agriculture, of “plant repro­ high­yield ideal to a high­value one, ment and policymakers who need to average turnout for the State. Clearly, the vo­ and Dalit Muslims, but more in rhetoric than ting the sale of certified seeds only. ductive material of organic heteroge­ where the ‘values’ include striving to do much more to secure sustainable ters in the region care about exercising their in action. In the current Indian law regulat­ nous material” without having to minimise environmental harm while rural societies, protect soil health franchise. They believe that their electoral Contrary to popular perception, Muslims ing intellectual property rights in comply with most of the arduous re­ maximising nutritional gains and and promote seed sovereignty for participation can make a difference to their do not always prefer en bloc voting along re­ seeds, the Plant Variety Protection gistration and certification require­ farmer welfare? the economic development of Indian dismal socioeconomic situation. But why is ligious lines. In Seemanchal, specifically, law, this same official preference for ments under various EU laws. Hete­ First, small farmers must be edu­ farmers and of the entire nation. an electorate with such a dominating pre­ they are divided by caste, class and lan­ the proprietary takes a different rogenous materials, unlike current cated and encouraged with proper sence helpless in this region? What explains guage, and vote for leaders they think will form. The law permits farmers not proprietary seeds, need not be un­ incentive structures, to engage with Mrinalini Kochupillai is a lecturer and Senior their continued neglect despite having elect­ address their deprivations. It is high time our only to save and resow (multiply) iform or stable. Indeed, the regula­ agriculture that conserves and im­ Research Fellow at the Technical University of ed influential leaders in the past, such as M.J. concerns move beyond politics and religion. Munich and Gregory Radick is Professor of seeds, but also to sell them to other tion clearly acknowledges based on proves traditional/desi (heteroge­ History and Philosophy of Science at the Akbar, Tariq Anwar and Pappu Yadav? farmers, no matter what the original “Research in the Union on plant re­ nous) seeds in situ, rather than with University of Leeds Both Muslim vote bank politics and the Shahana Munazir is a Delhi-based scholar

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FIFTY YEARS AGO MAY 9, 1969 Taking tensions seriously Russia may give more aid to India A true strategic partnership between The Defence and Foreign Affairs Committees of the Union Ca­ binet will meet soon to assess the wider political and military India and the U.S. remains elusive implications of the current Soviet approach to Indo­ Pakistan Michael Kugelman and Sino­Indian problems as enunciated by the Soviet P re­ mier, Mr. Kosygin, in his talks with Mrs. Indira Gand hi here The U.S.’s decision to not extend Iran [New Delhi] this week. Mr. Kosygin is reported to have stressed sanctions waivers, including the one once again that, while the Soviet Union did not foresee the provided to India, has notable impli­ possibility of another Indo­Pakistan conflict, it was not ruling cations for India­U.S. relations, given out the danger of renewed Sino­Indian border clashes so long the importance of New Delhi’s ener­ as China persisted in its militant policy of territoria l claims gy relationship with Tehran. It comes backed by threats of force. The Soviet Defence Minis ter, Mar­ on the heels of many other delete­

REUTERS shal Grechko, said the same thing during his recent visit to In­ rious developments for bilateral ties dia which coincided with the Sino­Soviet border inci dents in including the U.S.’s decision to withdraw GSP benefits for In­ the Ussuri river region. He, too, had emphasised the need for dian exports (in retaliation for Indian tariffs that the U.S. continued vigilance on India’s northern borders to me et the deemed to be prohibitively high) and the Trump administra­ Chinese threat. tion’s discontent deepening over India’s policies on e­com­ merce, intellectual property rights and data localisation. A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MAY 9, 1919. These India­U.S. trade and economic tensions aren’t new; CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC the non­security dimension of the relationship has lon g DATA POINT lagged behind the fast­growing defence side. Still, the com­ The Malabar Conference. (From an Editorial) plaints and perceived grievances, especially from th e U.S., have seemingly intensified in the Trump era. Both sides have played down these differences and of­ The addresses delivered and the Resolutions passed at the fered reassuring data points: India will scale up oil imports fourth session of the Malabar District Conference point as from other top producers; the GSP withdrawal will have mi­ much to the fact that such functions may be conducte d with nimal impact on India’s economy; the two capitals are work­ success and in a satisfactory manner in spite of some di ffe­ ing actively on high levels, most recently through t he U.S.­ rences of opinion on the part of some of the leaders as to the India CEO Forum and the India­U.S. Commercial Dialog ue, real trend of public opinion in the country. The Cha irman of to ease tensions; and above all the strength of the bilateral the Reception Committee, a leader of the aristocracy , as well relationship can easily withstand all these headaches. as the President of the Conference laid emphasis on the perni­ This is all true. But let’s be clear. A full­fledged strategic cious manner in which the Rowlatt blunder has been commit­ partnership, which both countries endorse, will be difficult ted, its possible consequences in the light of our experience of to achieve amid such multiple and long­standing discon ­ the way in which executive discretion, wherever allowed, has nects on the trade and economic side. Indeed, if bilatera l been exercised, the need for the reversal of the present repres­ ties are largely driven by technology transfers, arm s sales, sive policy and its replacement by a liberal one. joint exercises, and foundational agreements on defence, this amounts to a deep but one­sided security relationship, CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC and not a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership. To be sure, India­U.S. relations extend well beyond secur­ POLL CALL ity. Recent joint statements have dwelt on the potential for Model Code of Conduct cooperation on initiatives ranging from clean energy to in­ novation. And despite the problems, bilateral trade in goods The Model Code of Conduct refers to a set of norms laid down and services has increased over the last decade. Still, so long by the Election Commission with the consensus of poli tical as the non­security nuisances affect the bilateral relatio n­ parties in order to ensure free and fair elections. Parties and ship, the shift from a strong security relationship to a bona­ candidates are expected to follow the model code in their fide strategic partnership will be difficult. After all, one rare­ election manifestos, speeches and general conduct. T he mo­ ly hears complaints or concerns about trade and economic del code is not statutory. It comes into force on the announce­ matters in the U.S.’s relations with the U.K., Australia, or Is­ ment of the poll schedule and remains operational till the rael, some of its other strategic partners. The U.S. and India election process is concluded. In case parties/ candidates vio­ have long struggled to agree on what a strategic partnership late the model code by making hate speeches, intimidating should look like. Still, no matter how it is defined, any stra­ voters, providing inducements to voters, etc., the Elect ion tegic partnership must be broad­based, with trust and coop­ Commission is expected to take action against them. eration present across a wide spectrum of issues and not just limited to close collaborations in the guns­and­bom bs CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC category. In this regard, a true strategic partnership re­ mains, at least for now, elusive between India and the U.S. MORE ON THE WEB 3

The writer is Deputy Director and Senior Associate for South Asia with the Meet Chennai's sea turtle warriors Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, Washington, DC http://bit.ly/Chennaiturtle

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