A top agricultural research official's idea that India's age-old plant genetic resources can be made available to MNCs in return for better technology for farmers has invited criticism from non-governmental groups as well as individuals.

Dr S. K. Datta, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) deputy director-general for crop science, claimed that many of India's plant germplasm or species were in the public domain and already being used by MNCs and the Indian private sector. "Thus, it is better that Indian agricultural institutes and scientists collaborate with these multinational corporations and get to use their technology while these corporations use the country's genetic resources. The improvements undertaken by the MNCs can be incorporated in Indian plant varieties and the seeds can be transferred to the national seed corporation to be made available to farmers at a cheap cost," he said.

But several groups and noted persons - such as Vandana Shiva from Navdanya, Prof. Anil Sadgopal, former dean, faculty of education, University of Delhi, Dr G. V. Ramanjaneyulu, centre for sustainable agriculture, and Dr K. Babu Rao, convener, movement for people centred development - have written to the PM and the agricultural ministry against Datta's statement, saying that such collaborations only fill up the MNCs' pockets.

Farmer communities are also expected to oppose the move.

"It's like selling India's plant genetic resources. It is against the rules of the National Biodiversity Act and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights law," Devinder Sharma, food and trade policy analyst, said. He added: "The country has around four lakh varieties of plants, of which only a few have been commercialised. However, unused varieties can be used any time to make improvements in the commercialised varieties."

Shockingly, Datta also said that Indian institutes did not have the money and research capability to upgrade to the level of MNC technologies. "We can add value to their technology. For example, the cotton seed market is currently dominated by a multinational corporation's Bt cotton. (So) it is better to sign agreements with these corporations."

But the opposition groups said in their letter: "This is the hour when ICAR institutions should be providing sustainable solutions for farmers, not selling the germplasm of the nation and jeopardising food sovereignty."

"The research establishment has released many seed varieties. However, such seeds are not seen in farmers' fields because of government policies promoting private and proprietary seed markets," it adds.