Please find below a representative sampling of submissions from June, 2001 - January, 2002. Some submissions have been edited for length. Only those submissions which were not accompanied by a name, location, and valid e-mail address have been omitted.

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The gene used by Mahyco is not found harmful immediately, however, its long term effect is still not known from official source. I think the decision for delaying one year is OK. Can other breeder use the same gene after stabilizing the same from segeregating material ? Why DBT is not giving permission to Navbhart-151, if permitted to you. I think for this gene all should permitted and not only Mahyco, if the same is not harmful to human being or mammals.

The stand taken by the Government can be considered as a delaying tactics, which is usual in our system. I feel when some of the developed countries have already started reaping benefits of Bt cottons, preventing poor farmers in India to have access to Bt cotton would prolong their sufferings. A number of farmers in Andhra Pradesh have committed suicide for their inability to control pests and eventually pay for their high costs. Unfortunately in our country, we delay taking crucial decision and do not keep urgencies in mind. This is largely the reason that many countries that were behind us around the independence are now far more advanced. I hope the one year being sought for the release of Bt cottons would not be extended further.

At the outset we must be in position to ensure the farmers scientists and policymakers a foolproof system of production.This calls for transperency in farm trails and publication of the same. To dispel the myths, if any you must allow Indian scientists to examine your fields.

Bt cotton is one of the best discoveries in biotechnology, in the present millenium, with bt and its various types being able to kill a number of insects, it is certainly a good step towards eliminating the insect pests. But since every new discovery has had its own oppositions in the past, this wonder discovery will also take time to be approved, but once approved it will be a very good step towards pest elimination

Delay in making decision on whether to allow or not the BTcotton is mere waste of time. Few countries are sucessfully growing Bt cotton for the past few years and there was no report on negative side. From this one has to know about Bt cotton. There is no need to conduct trails for years together. Whether Bt gene become resistant to pests is not the concern of government,but the patent holder of Bt gene. Seed business is more competitive nature. If Bt gene becomes suseptible to pests, there will be other alternative which can be provided by effective R&D of MNCs. NGOs are voicing about biosafety of Bt cotton. But they forgot to talk about residual toxicity of pesticides.

Agricultural scientists in India are not willing to strongly support Bt cotton due to the fear that their importance will be ignored in future. So far no great achivements from biotechnology work undertaken by publicsector due to easy come and easy go attitude of scientists.Pressure from pesticide companies which depend its sale on cotton crop is also making the farmers fool. About 40% of the total pesticide consumed is only for cotton. Indian farmers are befooled by some NGOs which are funded by pesticide companies.Without the help of government it will be difficult to introduce Bt cotton to farmers.Ultimately farmers are denied their right to choose the variety.Huge investment made keeping the farmer's interest in mind by MNCs will go waste without use in poor nations.

I think that we in india should try to make understand the farmers,about the qualities of GM crops,by undertaking various talks & seminars in villages.As in other countries farmers accept these crops as they know about it very well.In India they have made it a political issue, so one more trail.Let them get satisfied and finally release it, then they will come to know about it.

The extension of the field trials of Bt Cotton by the GEAC is shot in the arm for the Indian Scientific community in general and the poor cotton farmers of India in Particular. With three years of trial data in various parts of India, the GEAC had enough material on it's hand to approve the cotton for commercial sowing. Also countries like USA and Australia where this cotton has been in commercial use for the past 3-4 years are much more safety concious than our govt. I personally feel that it is the whims and fancies of some persons and not the entire regulatory body, which are holding back this wonderful creation of Biotechnology.

It is meaningless on the part of the Indian Government to extend the field trials of Bt cotton in India. The previous trials have already proved that Bt cotton is safe for cultivation. I feel that the red tapism attitude of the government must be strongly condemned.

The step taken by Indian Government is correct. As,it must keep in mind that indian climate for agri.is entirely different from U. S. , China, and Australia .Indian scientists must take some more time to find out whether Bt cotton trial should be given permission for commercial production in India.

Its disappointing to put Bt cotton on trial.as far as the results is concerned it is explicit and clear from three year of trial here in india and a long test and trial in other country of bt cotton.as india is hub of production of cotton.if the farmer will be provided with the same then it is more productive in their favour. It is unnessary delay by GEAC.

Being a student of management in agribusiness after M.Sc. Ag in Genetics and Plant Breeding with two year experience in research, transgenics for insect resistance is my favorite topic. I've delivered my seminar on this perticular topic. Ican say firmly that it is not a scientific issue rather than a political. Its imperative to release Bt cotton in favor of indian farmer.as far as consumption of GM food is concerned it is as safe as any thing. Its very truth that it has to come. There is no option, but its a indian mentality that we accept any technology when it is obsolete in the developed country. Take the case of StarLink - it is now as safe as any thing after going through test. I had been asked the same question when Iappeared for interview at MANAGE that how safe the consumption of GM food is. Hope you will agree with my comment.

Indian Government is a little more cautious about bt-cotten, which is unnecessarily causing a delay in harnessing the fruits of biotechnology by Indians. We have not developed bt-cotten, if we believe in a developed nation's capability to develop new products and new technology then we should also believe in their capacity to acess risks related to it & if they have given it a green signal then why should we keep our hands away from it.

I have read your piece of study and i congratulate the genius beghind the discovery. BT cotton is a really great achievement for science and we should accept the gift of science. We should definitely accept the revolution as it comes and i think the new species is definitely a step towards the glory of BT products.its definitely the 21st century and the age of BT . We should support our BT heroes and think genuinely before giving a final verdict. Thank you.

I wish to know for how many years farmers in other countries have been growing Bt cotton? Will not a single gene resistance like the one conferred by Bt gene accelerate faster evolution in the pest and that too of a strain much more damaging than the present one.

I think GEAC has taken this descision to extend the field trial fro another reasons because of some reasons. As such, we have waited for so long to accept this wonder technology, I think, if waiting for another year assres us that the fruits of this technologogy will be available for Indian Farmers, I would like to go for it. Once we are through with this execercise, then perhaps it will be easier for us to extend the approach to other GMO. I would like to Congratulate Monsanto to give us a stage to express our views on such topic through thier portal. Thanks.

We have to face a large population for providing food eventhough we are selfsufficient but at the same time the pest are also developing high resistance against the use of chemicals. Moreover, the use of pesticides has very harmfull effect on the living beings so better to go for such technique - better late than now to accept it.

The one more year trial will further ascertain the acceptability of Bt cotton in India and the Indian farmers as such. It will give more chance to overview the performance under various agro-ecological regions. In my view the Govt. of India has taken a right decision in this regard.

Dr. Surender Kumar Verma
CICR,RS,Sirsa, India
surenderverma64@rediffmail.com

Oh trials again!!!, What are we heading for?? When our esteemed friends do not have any substantial bases for opposing GMO`s, why do they harp on the same string just because of some unknown fear. As per the nutritional problems are concerned, it doesn’t make a difference as to what organism are we eating as long as it has required amino acids, vital amines or energy yielding molecules. As long as the fears of devastating effect on ecosystem are concerned, our friends would agree that there isn’t any organism reported so far which could be as hazardous as the man itself. So please come out of your fears; no Frankensteins are going to rule this world. Please pose your oppositions to nuclear explosions if you please, but please let people in this starved country have what it primarily requires....ample nutritionally balanced food.

Well Indian govt has taken the right decision. Although Bt cotton would have been grown successfully in America but it should be tested in differnet locations of India regarding its fissiblity to differnet climatic conditions. The variety should be tested according to different parameters. Also it is a GM seeds so it should be tested regarding the different allergies also so that the clothes made off with this cotton would be easy to wear.

Dear Sir: Greetings. As I have taken several field trials, I personally feel that the more the trial conducted the better would be the future perspective. We should not worry saying that we should have conducted more trial before bringing to the market. with good wishes and prayer. Faithfully,

It seems to be a political decision, where a strong anti-Bt cotton lobby who got vested interest in it was able to influence the Govt. of India's decisions. I got surprised hearing such decision. I am sceptical about decision, but on one hand it is putting enoromous borrowed money (world bank project at ICAR) to develop transgenic Bt cotton in public sector whereas it is reluctant to allow private sector how to commercialize it. I am confident, one day farmers would be growing it in their field and enjoy the benefit it offers.

I feel pity on the farmers who can't reap the benefits of the technology. Delay is solely on the half knowledgeable anti-activists and I presume that Monsanto's technology will ensure its safety and efficiency.

Hello, as an agriculture graduate from g.b.pant univ of agri & tech. i must say that decision taken by govt of india is not given in hurry due to some regional imbalances & climatic differences our scientists need some more time to search the usefullness of this cotton bt, so i do agree with govt`s decision.

I appericate the hard work and contribution of monsanto particlarly in rice-wheat cropping system. But as far as the case of bt-cotton, I think it will be better to continue the trials of it for one more year due to its positive results it will increase the creditability of monsanto in all the arenas.We cannot compare the farming situation of usa, china, and japan today with india. I don't think that at present situation our farmers are ready to take risk after so many rumers in the market. It is better to go for one more year of research to win the confidence of farmer community.

As the trials on Bt cotton has been done successfully in many countries. The decision of GEAC to conduct more trials is a biased one. According to me GEAC should allow the indian farmers to use Bt cotton.