Fri May 30 15:08:06 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has written to the Union Agriculture Minister expressing strong opposition to the introduction and commercialization of gene-edited crop varieties, including rice. They cite a lack of consultation, independent assessment, and transparent debate. They also draw on the negative experience with Bt cotton, arguing that such technologies can create dependency and cause economic harm to farmers. The AIKS calls for strict liability laws for seed and biotech companies and emphasizes the importance of farmer empowerment.

**News Article:**

**Farmers’ Group Opposes Gene-Edited Crops, Citing Risks and Lack of Consultation**

*Vijayawada, May 30, 2025* – The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a major farmers’ organization, has formally voiced its strong opposition to the introduction and commercialization of gene-edited crop varieties in India, including rice. In a letter addressed to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the AIKS argued that the move is being pursued without adequate consultation with farmers, independent scientific assessment, or transparent public debate.

The letter, signed by Andhra Pradesh Ryotu Sangham (AIKS) president G. Eswaraiah and general secretary K.V.V. Prasad, expressed deep concerns about the potential for gene-edited seeds to create new forms of dependency for farmers, while offering no proven long-term benefits. The AIKS pointed to the past experience with Bt cotton as a cautionary tale. While initially effective, Bt cotton eventually failed to control pests, leading to significant losses for many farmers.

“Our bitter experience with Bt cotton should not be forgotten,” the letter stated. The group also criticized the lack of accountability for seed companies in the past, highlighting the absence of a proper crop insurance scheme to compensate farmers for losses.

The AIKS is urging the government to enact strict liability laws that would hold seed and biotech companies accountable for any economic or environmental harm caused by their products. They emphasized the need to empower farmers through self-reliance, rather than turning them into “passive consumers of corporate-controlled technologies.”

The letter concluded with a plea to the Ministry to heed the AIKS’s concerns and take steps to protect the rights, livelihoods, and dignity of India’s farmers. The issue is likely to spark further debate and scrutiny of the government’s approach to agricultural biotechnology.

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