The Hindu Business Line : Performance draws flak at public hearing

THE jury at a public hearing on Bt cotton has said the genetically modified crop is causing several problems, such as increase in pests, diseases and economic losses for farmers.

After listening to several speakers and farmers, the jury felt that the Government should not have approved the release of Bt cotton without conducting scientific field trials.

The jury for the hearing, organised by Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) here on Saturday, comprised Mr Justice B. S. A. Swami, a retired High Court judge, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, a senior journalist, Prof. K R Chowdhary, a noted agriculture scientist and Member of the Farmers' Welfare Commission set up by the Andhra Pradesh Government, Mr S. Malla Reddy, President of the CPM-affiliated AP Rythu Sangam and Dr Kodandaram, a political science teacher and human rights activist.

Calling for the cancellation of all the approvals immediately, the jury's verdict urged the Government to study all the shortcomings of Bt cotton. "The Government's fight on pricing issue will not solve the problem," it said.

The jury gave some suggestions that included strengthening of institutional credit and improving agricultural extension services.

Dr Alapati Satyanarayana, a scientist working for Nuziveedu Seeds, said that there should be no resistance to the development of transgenic technology, but it should be accompanied by transparent evaluation.

Dr G. V. Ramanjaneyulu of CSA alleged that there was no healthy discussion on the several challenges raised by the biotech intervention in crops. He discounted the argument that certain genes determined certain biological characters. Issues concerning `friendly insecticides' and non-targeted organisms had not been studied well.