Bt cotton fields death traps for sheep?

Are post-harvest Bt Cotton fields death traps for sheep? If reports from Andhra Pradesh are any indication, Bt Cotton is set to embrace another controversy soon.

Reports from Warangal said at least 1,820 sheep were dead after grazing on post-harvest Bt Cotton crops - the symptoms and post-mortem findings strongly suggested that they died from severe toxicity. According to news reports from Andhra Pradesh, this was uncovered in a preliminary investigation conducted by civil society organisations in four villages in Warangal district.

Moreover, villagers allege that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee seems to be unperturbed on the issue.

The issue, which was listed in the 77th meeting held in May for discussion in the following meeting of the GEAC, does not figure in the agenda circulated by the committee for the 78th meeting scheduled to be held on June 22.

Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad, officials alleged that GEAC was not worried on bio-safety

issues.

AP Goatherds' and Shepherds' Union office-bearers said the issue of sheep deaths should lead the agenda of the GEAC meeting.

The union said the issue is more relevant in the backdrop of increased Bt Cotton acreage and introduction of Bt-II. Till now, the union observed animal deaths in Warangal, Khammam and Adilabad only. But this phenomenon may spread to other parts also.

The GEAC is the nodal agency that monitors, controls and gives permissions for all issues related to crop biotechnology.

The sheep deaths also alerted people on the issue of illnesses in cotton farm workers and handlers caused by Bt Cotton in Madhya Pradesh.

There were reports also from Philippines on similar illnesses and deaths among villagers linked to exposure to Bt maize.