Ministry nod needed for new seed: Pawar

Union Minister for Agriculture and Food Sharad Pawar today said a new seed can be introduced only after the Ministry of Environment and Forests has cleared it. He was reacting to the Centre’s moratorium on genetically modified brinjal on the ground that more studies are needed to assess the impact of Bt brinjal on health and environment before it is released commercially.

“I need to first understand what Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has announced. Thus, I will not like to comment further. However, it is clear that environment ministry’s clearance is necessary for launch of any new seed. Unless and until such a clearance is given, my ministry will not propagate it,” Pawar told Business Standard from Dubai.

Pawar had been consistent on his view that Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, after carrying out a series of trials and tests, had recommended the introduction of Bt brinjal and, thus, it should not be opposed for the sake of it.

He, however, argued that the introduction of Bt brinjal should be in the larger interest of the country, its farmers and food security.

Pawar recalled that India had witnessed similar opposition at the time of introducing hybrid, transgenic plants and Bt cotton.

“The country has benefited a lot from these crops. Nearly 92 per cent of the cotton growing areas are today covered by Bt cotton,” he said.