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PM gets a memorandum to reconsider the commercial production of Bt brinjal
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Wednesday, 07 September, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Bangalore
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The Foundation of Biotechnology Awareness and Education (FBAE), along with a team of agri scientists, have asserted that Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis ) brinjal is safe for human consumption. In this regard, they have now re-submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to reconsider the commercial production of Bt brinjal.
The team said that the efficacy studies on Bt brinjal have shown that these varieties effectively controlled the brinjal stem and fruit borer and the American bollworm, with an insect mortality of 98 per cent.
Even though regulatory agencies like the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) and the RCIM
(Research Centre for Integrated Microsystems) have recognised the benefits of Bt brinjal over non-Bt varieties, yet, there was a reluctance arising out of the misleading claims from those opposing it, stated Prof. C Kameswara Rao, founder, FBAE, at a press conclave here.
"Let not farmers, the ultimate beneficiary of this technology --as was evident from the stupendous success of Bt cotton-- suffer the tyranny of politics. By allowing Bt brinjal the government will enable millions of brinjal farmers to earn more and lead better and happier lives. After the White Revolution of Bt cotton, the country was all set to usher in an era of Gene Revolution," Prof. Rao said in a fervent appeal to the PM.
Scientists at the conclave opined that the moratorium on Bt brinjal was strongly influenced by those opposed to agricultural biotechnology than by credible, critical, and balanced scientific judgement of technologists and bio-security experts on Bt brinjal, which was accepted by Philippines to process their Bt brinjal varieties and which would be released next year.
"The government's decision of imposing a moratorium on Bt brinjal seriously affected research and development activities in the country's agricultural biotechnology sector," said Prof Rao.
"The moratorium has created a regulatory uncertainty on the development of all genetically engineered crops in the country. In a year-and-a-half, there has been no palpable, effective and time-bound effort to lift the moratorium on Bt brinjal or to resolve the uncertainties caused by the moratorium," he added.
Dr T M Manjunath, consultant, agricultural biotechnology, said, "Considering that the product efficacy, bio-safety and environmental safety of Bt brinjal were evaluated for over seven years as per the international standards, involving over 200 scientists and more than a dozen public and private sector research institutions, Bt brinjal should be commercially released without further delay."
The adoption of Bt brinjal would aid millions of farmers, by reducing the use of synthetic insecticide up to 77 per cent and losses from the brinjal shoot and fruit borer (SFB), resulting in an increase in marketable yield, reducing cost of production. There would be about 60 per cent consumer benefit as well. As per a recent publication from the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, an ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) institute, Bt brinjal adoption would add between 30,000 to 1,19,000 tonnes to the total production of brinjal, depending upon the extent of cultivation in different areas / states. The absolute annual gain at the country level from Bt brinjal cultivation would be about Rs 577 crore at an adoption level of 15 per cent, about Rs 1,167 crore at 30 per cent and Rs 2,387 crore at 60 per cent adoption level.
Over 25 years of research experience and over 15 years of experience in commercial cultivation in about 30 countries have demonstrated that Bt crops are effective and safe for use. The benefits from Bt technology have been amply demonstrated in India as well through the commercial cultivation of Bt cotton since 2002, which lifted India to the position of second largest exporter of cotton.
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