Panel against Bt Brinjal in Andhra Pradesh

A three-member committee on Bt brinjal, appointed by the Andhra Pradesh government, has recommended not to allow commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal in the state.

The committee suggested for broader discussions on this subject. A central team will visit Hyderabad on January 21 to collect opinions of various sections.

The state government has formed the committee comprising agriculture and horticulture university vice-chancellors and agricultural products commissioner to advise it on Bt brinjal. The report was submitted on Friday.

It may be recalled that there had been large scale protests against Bt brinjal cultivation. There were apprehensions of a few companies monopolising the seeds market and agricultural input supply. There were also concerns of biosafety.