Despite a plethora of success stories being circulated by companies pushing for the spread of genetically modified (GM) crops, farmers from 64 villages in Uttar Pradesh have pledged to cultivate only GM-free crops.

About 2,000 farmers and farm workers from villages in UP''s Chitrakoot district bordering Madhya Pradesh have pledged to undertake organic farming and prepare their own seeds and fertilisers to promote sustainable farming.

This is the first time that such a pledge has been taken by farmers anywhere in the country. The event marks a turning point as farmers have decided to go the natural way in order to reverse the devastation caused by ''modern'' agriculture.

Food and trade policy analyst Devinder Sharma who is also member of the National Coalition for GM-Free India administered the pledge for the event, organised by Deen Dayal Research Institute.

Disapproving the large-scale diversion of agricultural land for setting up industries, DRI chairman Nanaji Deshmukh said, ''''Farmers of the country want to grow food, but if land is taken away from them, how will they do it?''''

Organic farmer from Haryana Ramesh Dagar also addressed the gathering. Senior officers of district administration, agriculture departments and Krishi Vigyan Kendras also attended the meeting.