Oct. 30, 2009 (The Hindu Business Line) --

This refers to “Bt Brinjal: A lost cause?” (Business Line, October 30).

The author has missed out on some central arguments against Bt Brinjal.

1. Pesticides also were adopted by farmers and, going by the quantity of pesticides consumed, the adoption of this technology was fantastic too.

Does that mean pesticides are needed or desirable for us?

2. The problem for the farmers at the beginning was pests; now we have converted this to pesticides! Pests can still be managed without the use of chemical pesticides or GM seeds.

It is happening in Andhra Pradesh on 20 lakh acres under a State-supported programme!

3. Bt Cotton did cause health problems — human allergies are reported and one has to go into AP, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra villages to get these reports from farm-workers.

Bt Cotton also caused toxicity to animals which grazed on it. If this could happen with cotton, imagine what lies in store with brinjal...

4. Contrary to what the author says, there are scientific studies that show the Bt protein action in the mammalian gut too.

5. On seed pricing, Monsanto (NYSE:MON) did not accept lower pricing; State governments were forced to promulgate ordinances overnight to ensure that exorbitant prices are not charged.

One should study what happened with the Essential Commodities Act amendment to understand the politics at play.

6. The choice for all of us is whether we would like to eat brinjals with a few chemical pesticides sprayed outside, brinjals with some pesticide outside and a new pesticide inside 24X7, throughout the season, or brinjals that have no pesticides at all.

The last option is quite possible, if there is political will.

It is difficult to convincingly argue in favour of the need for Bt Brinjal when safer, more affordable, sustainable and farmer-led alternatives for pest management exist.

Kavitha Kuruganti Kheti Virasat Mission Jaitu Faridkot Dist. Punjab