While the environmentalist organisations are
basking in the glory after the Centre put a moratorium on Bt Brinjal,
noted agricultural scientists, including MS Swaminathan and Gurdev
Singh Khush, have backed the decision saying the country was not
prepared for it.
Stating that India requires more time to accept
the biotechnology in food, father of green revolution, Swaminathan
said the decision was a much-needed step in these circumstances.
“In fact I had also advised Union Environment
Minister Jairam Ramesh to put on hold the Bt Brinjal after seeing the
reaction of media and environmental organisations. He has done well by
doing so,” said Swaminathan.
The expert said while people had accepted
biotechnology in medicine as they had accepted vaccinations, they had
aspersions on the role of biotechnology in production of food items.
“Any technology is a double edged tool. But if it is dealt with
ethics, it is for public benefit,’’ said Swaminathan.
Backing the decision of the Union Environment
Minister, another agriculture expert, Gurdev Singh Khush, called it a
wise action in view of a “feverish” campaign by the media and
environmental organisations.
He said though biotechnology is favoured world
over and seems to be a solution to pesticides overuse, there was need
to give it some more time here.
Meanwhile, Punjab Agricultural University
scientists had already voted in favour of Bt Brinjal. They had said
the modified brinjal was the only solution to the pesticide overuse.
