KOLLAM: The 21st Swadeshi Science Congress, jointly organised by the Swadeshi Science Movement and the CEPC Laboratory and Technical Division of the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), was inaugurated by M Radhakrishna Pillai, director of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), at the Cashew Bhavan here on Monday.Delivering the C V Raman Memorial Lecture, following the inauguration, Radhakrishna Pillai said that people were willing to accept the applications of biotechnology in the field of medicine as it saves life but they were sceptical about the use of the same in the agriculture sector. He said that dependence on genetically- modified (GM) crops would be inevitable for a sustainable food system and the cultivation of GM crops should go hand-in hand with traditional agricultural practices.Radhakrishna Pillai said that the potential hazards of GM crops could be analysed only after cultivating it for at least five years. Chairman of the Cashew Export Promotion Council, Harikrishnan R Nair, presided over the inaugural function. District Collector P G Thomas released a souvenir. Mayor Prasanna Earnest and president of Swadeshi Science Movement V P N Nampoothiri attended. Open forums Open forums would be held as part of the event on two major exports of the district, cashew and fisheries. The problems faced by the industries would be discussed and a policy would be drafted for future. Public would have an opportunity to discuss the issues with scientists associated with these industries. Discussion on ‘Problems and Prospects of Fisheries Industries in Kerala’ will be organised at 4 p m on Tuesday. The discussion will be led by scientists from the CMFRI and officials from the Department of Fisheries. Another session on Wednesday morning will discuss ‘Cashewnut Scenario- Present and Future’.
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