Banyan Roots Organic and Shikshantar organized two days Mela and workshop on Desi Mustard. Kapil Shah, Secretary of Organic Farming association of India was facilitator of this event. 

On Mela day, 16th December more than 100 people and farmers who grow Desi and Organic mustard participated and enjoyed traditional dishes made out of Mustard green. The purpose of the mela was to aware people about the mustard diversity and let people know new threat of genetically modified mustard on Desi mustard.

Kapil Shah explained the science of Genetically modified food and new genetically modified variety of Mustard. He said, “You could be eating Sarso ka saag, Pickles or using mustard oil. Mustard, despite its small size, is one of the most crucial ingredients in Indian cooking that we consume almost every day. But if the genetically modified mustard finds way onto your plate, then other crops will follow. Imagine having a special GM ingredient in your Tiffin every day. Genetically modified seeds will contaminating plates, and our farmers’ soil.”

Kapil Shah urged people that this issue is about our farmers, our food and our future.  He also added that Rajasthan is the biggest Mustard Producer state. 43% of total mustard production of India comes from Rajasthan. Consumer attending Mela raised their voice together to stop GM in Udaipur.

Kapil Shah told that only 21 countries are growing GM crops in 212 countries in the world. And out of that 6 countries are producing 90% of total production.

Rohit Jain, Founder of Banyan Roots and National Steering Committee member of Organic Farming Association of India said that our country still has rich bio diversity of indigenous variety. Our seed and traditional practice has capability to compete this new varieties.

On 17th December, detail Workshop on GM Food and Mustard was organized at Shikshantar where 30 people participated. Workshop was facilitated by Kapil Shah and Manish Jain from Shikshantar. The participants were divided in groups who went to different parts of the city and presented flash mob explaining to people the danger of GM food.