New Biotech Crops- Bt Mustard, Bt-Potato- in offing in India

New Delhi, Jun 4 (UNI) The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is likely to approve large scale field trials of GM Mustard and GM Potato, which have already undergone the field trials under controlled conditions.

Another crop which is ready for the nod is BT Brinjal which might be cleared for trials in the coming Khariff Season.

With the three crops in the pipeline which would get approval for commercial sale in another two years if all goes well, the farmers will benefit by growing Bt Brinjal as it will reduce the use of pesticides and reduce the pests.

Even the consumers will benefit as they would get vegetables with less pesticides.

The new varient of potatoes has more proteins while the mustard variety contains more oil. This will help the farmers to fetch a better price for their produce and the oil sector will get more oil, a release said here today India is a oil deficient country and though it is a small step, it will certainly help a part of the Indian population, the release added.

UNI BBS CS HT1130