The Hindu Business Line : Plea to include grazing of Bt cotton plants in research studies

Hyderabad June 21 In an interesting turn to the issue of deaths of animals that grazed on Bt cotton fields, The Animal Husbandry Department of Andhra Pradesh Government has urged the GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee) to include "continuous grazing or feeding complete Bt cotton plants to animals" in research studies.

Dr L. Mohan, Director of the department, has written a letter to the Chairperson of GEAC, recently requesting the committee to arrange for research studies in this regard.

Referring to a meeting of various stakeholders in April, he said that the gathering felt that bio-safety studies were not taken up in sheep and also trials didn't include continuous grazing or feeding of complete Bt cotton plants to animals.

"It was opined that biosafety studies should be on applied aspects and include continuous grazing of animals on harvested or intact Bt cotton plants. It should also include quantitative analysis of Bt protein and Gossypol in different stages (even after harvesting)," he pointed out.

Following complaints by AP Goatherds and Shepherds Association on animal deaths following alleged grazing on Bt cotton fields in Warangal district, the department conducted an investigation.

The studies were conducted in AP Forensic Science Laboratory (Hyderabad), Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (Jhansi), Western Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (Pune) and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University.

High content of nitrates

Results showed that the deaths might be caused due to high content of nitrates/nitrites, residues of HCN (hydro cyanide) and organophosphates. Bt protein content was in the tolerable range.

"However, the mortality of livestock was observed this year also in February and March, causing economic losses to the farmers," he said.

Consequently, the department had asked the officials to advise the farmers not to graze their animals in harvested Bt cotton fields till the definite cause (for the deaths) is established.

As the deaths continued, the department sent some more samples to the institutes for analysis. The results showed that the samples proved to be negative for HCN, nitrates, nitrites, alkaloids and glycoside. The results of gossypol and Bt protein analysis are awaited.

More Stories on : Animals & Livestock | Cotton | Bio-tech & Genetics

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