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Scientist, Founder and Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Dr Pushpa Bhargava said if India goes for genetically-modified food crops, it might have to face loss in the area of export market for its fruits and vegetables, which is worth Rs 1,00,000 crore.
Receiver of Padmabhushan award said “Around 84 per cent of the GM consumption happens in four countries of the world – US, Brazil, Argentina and Canada. Several countries including 90 per cent of the European Union have banned the import of GM crops”.
He added that Mr Barack Obama, the US President, mentioned about the deteriorating health condition of the American citizen over 10 years in his speech and the growing consumption rate of Bt items might have something to do with this.
GM-Labelling law
US is putting pressure on the Europeans to do away with GM-labelling law but owing to the high level of consumer awareness, they are sticking to the law. There is no such law in India and a consumer will not have any idea about the product he is consuming that whether it’s Bt or non-Bt.
Speaking on the safety of genetically-engineered brinjal, he added that it’s a beautiful technology but needs to be verified and examined before it reaches consumers.
Dr Arjula Reddy, the Chairman of EC II, informed “Around eight tests that should be conducted before the safety of Bt brinjal can be gauged were not conducted by the committee”.
He told, “He was uncertain whether he should pass the Bt brinjal proposal, but was getting calls from the Agriculture Minister, GEAC, and industry and so, succumbed to the pressure”.
At present, multinational companies have 30% stake in the seed production in India. However, they want to have 100% control over seed and fertilizer production in the nation.
Agriculture
He said about 60% Indian population has direct connection with agriculture in comparison to the US population, which accounts for only 1% in this respect. Hence, if MNCs are given 100% access to this, they would become the defacto controller of the nation’s economy.
Genetically-engineered cotton
Bt cotton that contributed massively towards the economic growth of Gujarat is witnessing decline in production in every season. Andhra Pradesh too shows mixed results.
He said, “In Punjab, reports of an allergy caused are coming in and in another part of the country, cattle deaths were reportedly caused by eating Bt crop. A directive has been released by the State Government to farmers to not feed their cattle Bt crops. It is no secret that the suicides in Vidarbha were a result of heavy costs undertaken to fund Bt seeds against low output. In the light of such mixed results, why should India take a chance? An independent lab should be set up to test Bt brinjal within the country”.
Mr Jairam Ramesh, the Union Minister of State-Independent Charge, will hold meetings of diverse interest groups across 7 cities this month before giving his judgment in the month of February whether Bt Brinjal is acceptable in the nation or not.
States like Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal are not ready to grow Bt brinjal.
The Hindu Business Line
January 7, 2010
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