Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007
ePaper
Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007 ePaper |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Bio-tech & Genetics ‘Cattle, sheep death not related to Bt cotton consumption’
Our Bureau Hyderabad, July 9The All-India Crop Biotechnology Association (AICBA), an organisation comprising members of companies engaged in agriculture biotechnology, has reiterated that the deaths of sheep, goat and cattle were not related to consumption of Bt cotton leaves and plants. Other reasons
Addressing a press conference Mr Raj Ketkar, Joint Managing Director of Mahyco Monsanto Biotech, and Mr R.K. Sinha, Executive Director of AICBA, asserted that the deaths could have occurred due to other reasons. IVRI observation
Quoting observations from a report by the Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis of IVRI (Indian Veterinary Research Institute), to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), they said limited studies in goats and rats fed with Bt cotton leftovers indicated no untoward clinical effects. International reports
Stating that the GEAC reviewed reports published in international journals and views expressed by the Punjab State Agriculture University (Ludhiana), they said none of the reports or analyses conclude that Bt toxin was responsible for sheep mortality in Adilabad and Warangal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Media reports
Commenting on media reports on the deaths, they said the compounds such as nitrates and nitrites found in the viscera of sheep were in no way connected to Bt cotton. On pricing of Bt cottonseed, “There should be no control on pricing,” he said. Prices
While Bt-I is sold at Rs 750 a packet, Bt-II is distributed at Rs 925. The Andhra Pradesh Government, however, put a bar, mandating the seed companies to sell Bt-II too at Rs 750. Mr Raj felt that Bt-II offered better protection from bollworm, while offering shield against heliothis.
More Stories on : Bio-tech & Genetics | Animals & Livestock
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