Ahmedabad Jan. 7 If India adopts genetically-engineered food crops, there are chances that it will loose out on the potential export market worth Rs 1,00,000 crore for its fruits and vegetables, said Dr Pushpa Bhargava, Scientist, Founder and Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
“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,” the Padmabhushan holder said.
The 10-year decline of American citizen's health as mentioned by the US President, Mr Barack Obama, in his speech and increase in consumption of Bt products might have a correlation, he said.
labelling law
Despite pressures from the US to repel the GM-labelling law, the Europeans are continuing with it, due to the presence of widespread consumer awareness. India, on the other hand, has no such law and a consumer will not know whether the vegetable he is eating is Bt or non-Bt.
Commenting on the safety of Bt brinjal, he said that the technology was a beautiful one, but it should be tested and verified before introducing it on the plates of consumers.
“Around eight tests that should be conducted before the safety of Bt brinjal can be gauged were not conducted by the committee, the Chairman of EC II, Dr Arjula Reddy, told Business Line.
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,” he said.
Currently, multinational companies control 30 per cent of the seed production in India and wish to control 100 per cent of seed and fertiliser production of the country.
Agriculture
Around 60 per cent of India's population is directly connected with agriculture against one per cent of the US and it would mean a defacto control of the country's economy by MNCs if this were to come true, he said.
Bt cotton
Bt cotton, which has tremendously contributed to the economy of Gujarat is seeing declining production with every season and in Andhra Pradesh, has mixed success rates.
“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,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister of State-Independent Charge, Mr Jairam Ramesh, is scheduled to conduct meetings of various interest groups in seven cities this month before pronouncing a verdict in February on the acceptance of Bt Brinjal in the country.
Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Kerala are amongst the States that have expressed disinterest in growing Bt brinjal.
Source : Business Line