DNA
\nISLAMABAD
\nIslamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) on Thursday said controversial companies banned in dozens of countries should not be allowed to expand in Pakistan to damage our weak agricultural sector for their profit.
\nGenetically modified seeds of a US company have inflicted heavy losses on global agriculture production, created food security issues, problems for farmers and fuelled health issues among masses and livestock, it said.
\nThe negative impact of genetically modified seed developed by some companies was so high that thirty-five countries have banned it but some elements are trying to introduce such seeds of maize in Pakistan which is unfortunate, said Patron ICST Shahid Rasheed Butt.
\nHe said that Pakistan introduced genetically modified seed for the improved cotton crop without looking deeply into pros and cons of the move which resulted in a disaster leaving no justification for repetition of such failed experiment.
\nThe producers of the modified seed claims that it is pest resistant and require lesser inputs which have proved wrong by a good number of independent organizations, agriculturists, researcher, and scientists, he added.
\nThe crop based on genetically modified seed needs additional pesticides made by the same company while it harms human and animal health, pollutes the environment, and poisons water table.
\nHe said that maize is seeded at 1.33 million hectare which produces over six million tonnes of maize. Almost 65 percent of the production is being used by the poultry sector, around one lakh tonnes is exported which rest is consumed for other purposes.
\nIntervention of infamous companies in the maize sector can also damage the agriculture sector and inflict huge losses on our vibrant poultry sector, he warned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DNA ISLAMABAD Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) on Thursday said controversial companies banned in dozens of countries should not be allowed to expand in Pakistan to damage our weak agricultural sector for their profit. Genetically modified seeds of a US company have inflicted heavy losses on global agriculture production, created food security issues, problems […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n