State Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma today told the Assembly that the State Government was according priority to cold storages and securing market linkage for the farmers so that they got due remuneration for the produce without getting exploited by middlemen.

JAJPUR: An increased production of brinjals in Jajpur district has spelt doom to its farmers as the high output had brought down their prices.

Besides, there is no cold storage for preservation of brinjal and no industry for its biproducts.

Chennai: The cold, arid region of Ladakh, where temperatures dip to minus 45 degrees Celsius, is the last place on earth where you would expect tomatoes, potatoes, cucumber, brinjal, onion and garlic to grow. But, thanks to the efforts of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), about 5,000 tons are produced in Ladakh every year.

While the moratorium on Bt brinjal has dealt a blow to the scientific community, there are several genetically modifided crops being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, trials for which are on across the country. Interestingly, as they work on these GM crops, scientists bear it in mind that apart from the taste, the vegetables should also look acceptable.

JAMES KANTER

The European Commission began a new push on Wednesday to allow farmers in Europe to grow more biotech crops. In doing so, they have cleared the genetically modified potato for cultivation, despite persistent public opposition to the technolo- gy.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has put a moratorium on Bt brinjal with the Cry1Ac gene. But following fresh discussions on the wisdom of the ban, scientists are betting their hopes on a different Bt brinjal

The European Union, where genetically modified food crops face stiff opposition on grounds of health and environmental risk, has approved the cultivation of GM potato

In the 14 years since the first genetically modified crops were planted commercially, their descendants, relatives and remixes have gone forth and multiplied like profitable, high-tech pondweed. A new report shows that 25 countries now grow GM crops, with the total area under cultivation now larger than Peru.

US Study Led By Indian-Origin Scientist Finds Vegetable Prevents Disease From Spreading

PM Unhappy With Public Spat Over Bt

PRIME Minister Manmohan Singh, who normally opts for the path of least resistance, decided to go along with the view that the introduction of Bt brinjal should wait till safety tests are completed and consensus developed on the crop.