Andhra opposes Bt brinjal on inadequate data

Even as Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh, is preparing to take a final call on whether to allow commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal, Andhra Pradesh has strongly opposed its introduction based on the present data.

The state demanded that the Centre postpone the introduction of the variety till public institutions conduct their own trials and come out with recommendations.

Two days ago, Andhra Chief Minister K Rosaiah had written to the Centre explaining the state’s stand on Bt brinjal. He also highlighted the need for rigorous studies before allowing its commercial production, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said while addressing a press conference here today.

Reddy said there was a need for broader studies on the impact of Bt brinjal on human health and environment. The trials should be conducted in the fields belonging to state universities, he said.

The committee appointed by the state government to look into the matter had also stressed on the need for indigenous studies on the egg plant.

The minister said several varieties of brinjal were already available to farmers and there was no urgency to introduce new varieties. “The data that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee used for approving Bt brinjal is inadequate. Bt brinjal should be considered only after extensive testing. It should not matter, even if it takes two to five years, or more, for the tests to be conducted,” he said, adding that the data provided by seed companies should not be relied upon for allowing commercial production.