GM crop: Biosafety aspect overlooked

Expressbuzz, Oct 17, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: There is a great political-bureaucratic divide on the issue of genetically-modified (GM) crops. While Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout, like his predecessor Surendra Nath Nayak, has categorically spoken against the entry of GM varieties into the State, the bureaucracy is hellbent on allowing them ignoring the bio-safety norms.In September 2007 the then agriculture minister had told the Assembly that the Government is against entry of any type of GM crops. On the contrary, senior agriculture officials still advocate the positive qualities of Bt cotton, which without any official nod, is being widely cultivated in many parts of Rayagada, Kalahandi and Balangir districts.Director, Agriculture, Babaji Guru today said Bt cotton has benefited the farmers in controlling pests and is also helping the environment by consuming less pesticides.According to members of United Coalition Against Genetic Engineering (UNCAGE), who met Guru today, the Agriculture administration cannot ignore the health hazards associated with the GM crops.Though as the first common vegetable crop of Asia and Indian sub-continent, Bt brinjal has received the approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), activists working against GM varieties alleged that without resolving many basic genetical issues, granting permission for commercialisation would be dangerous to human health.According to sources at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, biosafety tests for Bt brinjal are underway at a farm near Khandagiri and if the Government will not take any step then like Bt cotton, Bt brinjal might have a back door entry, said UNCAGE convener J. Chatterjee. After that the agriculture officials would again say that as farmers procured seeds from neighbouring states, no actions can be taken, he added.Even the Monsanto scientific data says Bt brinjal is dangerous, said Chatterjee adding as brinjal is a vegetable consumed by all sections of the society, the bio-genetic implications could be more dangerous.Though the Bt brinjal trial is being pushed by Agri-Biotecnology Support Programme under a USAID initiative in India, GM crops are mostly consumed as animal feed in US, he informed.