Consumers now victims of syndicated market system, Says Prof Muzaffer Ahmad

Consumers have become the victims of syndicated market system, as the government could not develop an alternative market, said noted economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad at a dialogue yesterday.

“We got stuck in production for export and market-oriented economy ignoring the needs of consumers and farmers,” he added.

The citizens' dialogue on 'Genetic engineering and golden rice: Threats and prospects for Bangladesh' was organised jointly by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Shikkha Swastha Unnayan Karjakram (Shishuk) at the National Press Club in the city.

It was organised under the 'Save Our Rice Campaign' in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific and Year of Rice Action.

Stating that commercial agriculture production today controls the market and price, Prof Ahmad, who is also Bapa president, said, “As a consumer, I have no alternative to consuming the rice variety that I actually do not like.”

Big agro companies have already come to play in the wake of a situation when the country requires more production to feed its growing population, but its consequences are rarely analysed, he said.

“Production has increased, but many indigenous crop varieties have been lost. There is also no documentation of changes in the agro-ecology and there is no agriculture planning in the country,” said Prof Ahmed.

It is now important to prepare a balance sheet of what the country gained and lost in terms of agriculture, he said.

“If our gross national happiness is not satisfactory, then what is the benefit of high yielding rice,” he put a question, adding that the authorities should initiate restoration of indigenous crop varieties and ensure sovereignty of the farmers, consumers and ecology-friendly farming.

Bangladesh has both the problems of vitamin deficiency and food shortage that requires more food production, said Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir.

But it does not mean that genetically modified food should be taken simply for granted, she added.

Khushi Kabir said there are many high yielding vegetables, but nobody knows the consequences they may cause.

“We need to understand the food technologies before we accept them,” she added.

Dr Michael K Hansen, senior staff scientist of US-based Consumers Union, in a presentation said golden rice, a genetically engineered rice of high yielding variety, has serious vitamin A deficiency which could be life-threatening.

A country may accept such crops, but it must have appropriate bio-safety law in line with Codex Alimentarius (guideline on food safety) Commission of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Shishuk Executive Director Sakiul Millat Morshed said he has learned that Bangladesh is preparing a draft policy on genetically engineered food, but it has not been made public.

“Such a policy must be very comprehensive and flawless,” he added.