(IN) Mortality of livestock linked to Bt cotton yet again

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Date:22/06/2007 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/22/stories/2007062255740400.htm

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Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

 

Mortality of livestock linked to Bt cotton yet again

 

K. Venkateshwarlu

 

 

Animal Husbandry Director confirms findings to genetic engineering

panel

 

 

 

 

 

HYDERABAD: Notwithstanding the stout denials by Monsanto-Mahyco, the

Animal Husbandry Department has again confirmed that the mortality of livestock

that grazed on harvested fields of Bt cotton was indeed observed in February and

March this year too, especially in Warangal and Adilabad.

 

The confirmation is contained in a letter sent by the Director of Animal

Husbandry Department to the Chairperson of Genetic Engineering Approval

Committee on May 9.

 

The Director specially asked the GEAC to take into consideration the

opinion of sheep growers and arrange for bio-safety studies on applied aspects

like continuous grazing of animals on harvested or intact Bt cotton plants and

the quantitative analysis of Bt protein in different stages even after

harvesting.

 

2006 instance

 

In the letter, the Director recalled that last year when similar reports

came in, the department had undertaken investigation and analysis of plant

samples like leaves, boll, seed and other portions for presence of possible

toxins and their ill effects in animals.

 

These tests were conducted in national and State institutions like Andhra

Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research

Institute, Jhansi, Western Regional Disease Diagnositc Laboratory, Pune, and

Department of Agriculture Biotechnology of Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural

University.

 

The results showed that the death of sheep could be due to high content of

nitrates/nitrites and residues of hydro cyanide (HCN) and organophosphates.

 

The same kind of mortality of livestock was observed this year too causing

economic loss to farmers.

 

The samples this time were sent to the Indian Veterinary Research

Institute, Izzatnagar, in addition to other institutions. However the results

showed that samples were negative for these compounds.

 

Precaution

 

As a precautionary measure the department asked its staff to create

awareness among shepherds and to advise them to not to graze their animals in

harvested Bt cotton fields till definite cause was established.

 

Kavita Kuruganti, consultant to Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, told

The Hindu that the letter had confirmed through official channels not only the

toxicity phenomenon but that previous bio-safety studies on Bt cotton had left o

ut important applied aspects of village-level practices.

 

 

 

 

 

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