Thiruvananthapuram:
To counter the possible ill effects of commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal on their traditional crop, villagers at a gram panchayat in Kerala have launched a campaign to showcase their varieties, distribute seedlings and highlight its "medicinal" properties.
People of Mararikulam Panchayat in Alapuzha district hit upon this idea as they fear multinationals will monopolise the seeds market and agricultural input supply.
"They are also concerned about the bio-safety aspect, particularly after Kerala ayurvedic physicians came out openly against Bt brinjal," Mararikulam North Panchayat President Priyesh Kumar said.
As part of the campaign, the panchayat distributed 'Mararikulam brinjal' plants to around 8,000 households in the locality at a week-long exhibition and also participated in a national seminar, which demanded a moratorium on GM crops, as it could affect biodiversity.
"Brinjal cultivation is the basis of livelihood for many people here and they fear that introduction of new Bt variety would destroy their traditional variety," Kumar said.
Presently more than 200 people cultivate this brinjal, widely recognised as a vegetable of medicinal quality, on a commercial basis in the panchayat, he said.
Kumar demanded that the government set up a mechanism to conduct a detailed field study on impact of Bt Brinjal and felt there was no need to introduce it "as India has sufficient skills in agriculture and crop production like plant breeding and hybridisation."
People of Mararikulam Panchayat in Alapuzha district hit upon this idea as they fear multinationals will monopolise the seeds market and agricultural input supply.
"They are also concerned about the bio-safety aspect, particularly after Kerala ayurvedic physicians came out openly against Bt brinjal," Mararikulam North Panchayat President Priyesh Kumar said.
As part of the campaign, the panchayat distributed 'Mararikulam brinjal' plants to around 8,000 households in the locality at a week-long exhibition and also participated in a national seminar, which demanded a moratorium on GM crops, as it could affect biodiversity.
"Brinjal cultivation is the basis of livelihood for many people here and they fear that introduction of new Bt variety would destroy their traditional variety," Kumar said.
Presently more than 200 people cultivate this brinjal, widely recognised as a vegetable of medicinal quality, on a commercial basis in the panchayat, he said.
Kumar demanded that the government set up a mechanism to conduct a detailed field study on impact of Bt Brinjal and felt there was no need to introduce it "as India has sufficient skills in agriculture and crop production like plant breeding and hybridisation."
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
