After an overwhelming success of Bacillus thurengiensis (Bt) cotton, Bt brinjal is all set to go commercial from the next sowing season, with the completion of its trial runs. After the launch, Bt brinjal will become the first edible product in the country to be grown using genetically modified (GM) seeds.
According to R K Sinha, executive director, All India Crop Biotechnology Association, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has been sowing GM seeds of Bt brinjal for the last four to five years and has found no harm in commercialising it with adequate approval from the authorities concerned. This year, ICAR covered between 15 and 18 acres under Bt brinjal across the country to test the viability of commercialisation before the final approval.
“Brinjal is a staple food for many poor people, which also has medicinal properties. Hence, commercialisation would not only benefit farmers, who can save their investment in pesticides, but may also boost their income by way of a higher production,” Sinha said.
On December 10, 2007, the Supreme Court had refused to stay Mahyco’s (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) trials of Bt brinjal in various parts of the country following a plea from social activists Aruna Rodrigues and P V Satheesh. A committee, under the union ministry of environment and forests, had given a clearances for the large-scale field trials in August 2007. According to a study by Mahyco, the technology supplier for Bt brinjal and a strong advocate of genetically-modified agricultural crops, farmers invest about Rs 100 per pesticide spray per acre for anywhere between 40-45 sprays of the 90-day brinjal crop.
Secondly, harvesting is not allowed after four to five days of spraying to avoid any residual pesticides, which may be consumed directly under the existing norms. But farmers continue to harvest within two days of spraying. Hence, the intake of pesticides through fruits and vegetables is high, the study pointed out.
By sowing Bt brinjal, hardly one or two sprays are required against the insect attack. But the number of sprays may increase depending upon the intensity of pest infestation, said Mahendra Kumar Sharma, general manager, Mahyco, who is also closely monitoring the developments of Bt brinjal.
Launched about six years ago, Bt cotton has covered almost 70 per cent of the area under cotton in India. This is likely to rise further to 80 per cent this year. A change in farming techniques has revolutionalised the living standards of cotton farmers by enriching them monetarily.