To improve soil fertility and check the pests in the soil farmers should make use of organic manure, suggested MCF Assistant Manager D M Renukaradhya.

Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Dr Ramkrishna Kusmaria has said giving permission for Bt brinjal will hit India's age-old farming system. Bt brinjal will not only affect human health adversely but will also cast ill-effects on environment. Dr Kusmaria was addressing a conference at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala recently.

Cadres of the two political extremes were seen raising anti-Bt brinjal slogans at a recent public hearing by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh

The Kheti Virasat Mission today said that the consultation process started by the Minister for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh on the proposed commercial release of genetically modified brinjal (Bt brinjal) was not scientific and inappropriate to the task.

Mansar (Samba): Union Minister of Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh today assured that no decision would be taken on Bt Brinjal without evolving a consensus. He also maintained that the decision regarding the commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal would be taken only after consultation with all stakeholders.

THE humble vegetable brinjal and the possible entry of its genetically modified version are indeed causing huge rumblings not just in the public minds but within the government too with different ministers articulating different views on Bt Brinjal.

A BRINJAL by any other name

As voices against contentious Bt Brinjal steadily grow louder, agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan has called for a thorough analysis of benefits and risks of genetically modified vegetable in a credible manner before introducing it in the country.