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Our Bureau

Hyderabad , May 4

THE Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has agreed to involve the State agricultural universities in the process of granting of licences to private companies wanting to undertake field trials of genetically engineered or modified varieties.

The GEAC's response is based on a suggestion made by the Andhra Pradesh Government, which had raised its objections to the granting of licences directly to private companies to carry out trials of genetically engineered varieties, especially Bt Cotton.

The Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, told Business Line that in the case of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco), the Government had given a report based on which the GEAC had not renewed permission for marketing of Bt cottonseeds in Andhra Pradesh.

The GEAC in its meeting in Delhi, refused to extend permission to Mahyco to sell the Bt cotton seeds of MECH-12 Bt; MECH-162Bt and MECH 184Bt, which contain the Cry 1 Ac gene.

Mr Reddy said complaints had been made against Mahyco on two fronts. Several farmers had complained that the company had not paid compensation despite signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and second, complaints on the performance of the Bt cotton varieties themselves.

Meanwhile, the Deccan Development Society and the AP Coalition in Defence of Diversity, the two non-Governmental organisations, which spearheaded the campaign against the Bt cotton varieties, urged the State Government to prevent Monsanto Mahyco and Nuzvid seeds from selling their seeds.

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