One way of understanding how climate change is likely to affect global food production and food security is to better understand the recent past. That is, how have changes already influenced agricultural activities and production? For example, considerable debate has taken place on whether
NEW DELHI: After raising objections to the permission given by the Centre for trials of Bt Maize in his State, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has now urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to pass the Seeds Bill in Parliament without taking into consideration the views and concerns of Bihar.
To start with, a string of questions seemingly disconnected. Should the telecom spectrum have been auctioned? Can wildlife in India be protected only by emptying out large swathes of lands? Are genetically modified food crops the way to food security in India?
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has stressed that the state government must be consulted before any private sector agency is allowed to conduct trials for genetically modified crops. In his letter to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, the Bihar chief minister reiterated the need for state representation in the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee.
In an important decision, the Bihar Government has decided to disallow field trials of Bt maize in the State, citing probable hazards to personal health and the environment in general.
Speaking to journalists outside the State Legislature, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that taking cognizance of the dangers involved,
The Union Minister for Forest and Environment, Mr Jairam Ramesh, has instructed the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to immediately cancel field trials for Bt-maize in Bihar.
Jairam intervenes after Nitish tells him that he is opposed to such trials
Even as the moratorium on commercialisation of Bt brinjal stands, Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh has asked the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to immediately withdraw its permission to Monsanto for field trials of Bt maize in Bihar.
This study focuses on the direct monetary and other effects of growing GM crops that influence farmers‘ income, as represented by the following economic parameters: crop yields, seed costs, pesticides and herbicides costs, labour costs, and gross margins.
South Africa expects to seal a deal with buyers in Saudi Arabia and India for about 1,00,000 tonne of its surplus maize before the end of February, a senior government official said on Monday.
