Bihar has become the first State to reject the commercial cultivation of genetically modified or Bt brinjal, if only temporarily.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said the issue was carefully considered by the Rajya Kisan Ayog, which, after deliberations with farmers, agricultural scientists and agricultural officers was of the opinion that there should be an adequate number of trials to see its performance in different agro-climatic conditions in Bihar. Such trials should be held involving agricultural research institutions in the State, the Ayog said in its report. In a letter to Minister of State Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, Mr. Kumar said the Ayog also noted that no data was provided on the commercial aspect of cultivation of Bt brinjal.