MS Swaminathan throws his weight behind Bt brinjal

MS Swaminathan, renowned as the “father of economical ecology,” and member of parliament, on Wednesday vouched for the need to introduce Bt brinjal. He was speaking at a meet on ‘2010-11 Budget and National Food Security’ organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

“Bt Brinjal is pest resistant. It should be tested as and when released. Research has to be conducted, and be prepared for the series,” he said. He added that regulations have to be brought in, so that a move such as this could be safely implemented. Dr Swaminathan also expressed disappointment with the Union budget allocation to agriculture. He said the poor allocation  in the budget was a reflection of the priority of the government.

Dr Swaminathan underlined the need for encouraging organic farming, and taking special care of the health of the soil. He also spoke of the need to ensure proper storage facilities.

Speaking at the meet and taking a more cautious stance, Sangita Sharma, director, Annandana, an NGO, said: “Every farmer has the right to choose seeds that suit his needs best. Multinational companies cannot dictate the use of seeds. Many countries have already passed a moratorium banning genetically modified foods. Why is our government still not waking up to that?”

She added that agricultural research around the world has indicated that secondary pests have been released into the environment. “In China, studies have revealed that GM crops have increased the use of pesticides by 8%. GM crops cause irreversible changes,” she warned.

Alluding to the non-pesticide management (NPM) model adopted in 21 districts of Andhra Pradesh, she said, “We have a history of agriculture in this country that goes back 15,000 years or more. The methods adopted by our farmers have helped in the cultivation of sustainable crops. GM crops are more likely to suit the interests of multinationals than farmers. We cannot allow the introduction of such crops until they are tried and tested.”