Bt Brinjal moratorium disheartened scientific community: Pawar
May 13th, 2010 - 9:51 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Thursday said the moratorium on the commercial release of Bt Brinjal has “disheartened” the scientific community in the country.
“I am worried that the scientific community is disheartened (by the decision). In fact, they are nervous,” Pawar told women journalists during a conversation at the Indian Women’s Press Corps here.
The minister said it has to be seen how productivity can be increased and simultaneously ensure that whatever new technology is coming it does not affect animal health, soil, water and environment.
“In the last 30-35 years, a lot of research has been done in our country. But the government has given approval to only one genetically modified crop - transgenic cotton,” he added.
The environment ministry Feb 10 imposed a moratorium on the introduction of Bt Brinjal in the country and said further studies need to be done to know the impact of genetically modified (GM)crops on health and environment.
Pawar had advocated the introduction of GM foods in India, saying the moratorium was sending out wrong signals and was stopping investments in the Indian agro-technology sector.
- No GM crop trials without states' consent: Jairam Ramesh - Mar 09, 2011
- No question of lifting moratorium on Bt Brinjal: Ramesh - Sep 27, 2010
- PM upholds moratorium on Bt Brinjal - Feb 24, 2010
- India is sharply divided over introduction of Bt Brinjal - Feb 09, 2010
- Explained: The ruckus over Bt Brinjal - Jan 30, 2010
- Herbicide tolerant GM crops pose serious health threat: Greenpeace - Aug 04, 2011
- Decision on Bt. Brinjal not influenced by NGOs: Jairam (Second Lead) - Feb 26, 2012
- Bt.Brinjal decision not influenced by NGOs, asserts Jairam (Lead) - Feb 26, 2012
- Bt Brinjal moratorium to stay: Ramesh - Feb 24, 2010
- India says no to Bt Brinjal, pending tests (Second Lead) - Feb 09, 2010
- Remove misgivings regarding GM crops, says Pawar - Feb 17, 2010
- Uncommon furore over common brinjal - Feb 09, 2010
- Canadian Indian scientist pats Ramesh on Bt Brinjal, smells conspiracy - Feb 15, 2010
- India says 'no' to Bt Brinjal, pending scientific tests (Roundup) - Feb 09, 2010
- Activists oppose commercial farming of Bt brinjal - Oct 16, 2009
Tags: 35 years, agriculture minister, agro technology, animal health, brinjal, further studies, gm, gm crops, gm foods, indian women, moratorium, New Delhi, new technology, productivity, sharad pawar, signals, soil water, technology sector, transgenic cotton, women journalists