Chandigarh, Sept. 11 -- The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday opposed the release and multiplication of patented seed technologies and gene-edited (GEd) rice varieties, saying they could threaten the country's seed sovereignty, farmers' rights and indigenous rice biodiversity.

Jagmohan Singh Uppal, general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda), a constituent of the SKM, said the Centre's move to release and multiply two gene-edited rice varieties - DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) and Pusa DST Rice 1 - was a matter of concern.

He claimed that seed multiplication of Pusa DST Rice-1 had already begun ahead of the coming rabi sowing season and urged the Union government to stop the process before it became irreversible.

The SKM, an ...