Bt cotton a genetically modified （GM） crop has provided higher yields and profits for the farmers in India since its introduction in 2002. The environmentalists across the globe have however expressed the concern on...Bt cotton a genetically modified （GM） crop has provided higher yields and profits for the farmers in India since its introduction in 2002. The environmentalists across the globe have however expressed the concern on the use of GM crops as they feel that they would cause environmental damage and they are not safe for human consumption. In the meantime, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee （the regulatory body for GM crops in India） evaluated the development process of Bt brinjal （eggplant） and has given its approval for commercial cultivation. This further aggravated the GM controversy; while the farmers are interested in cultivating Bt brinjal, the activists against GM crops have been protesting against the introduction of these hybrids stating that adequate tests have not been done to check on the safety of Bt brinjal. This controversy prompted the Minister of Environment of India Government to hold public consultations across India to access the views of the stakeholders. Based on the public consultations, the minister ＂put on hold the commercial introduction of Bt brinjal＂ on February 9, 2010. This paper analyses the view points of stakeholders collected at the public consultation held at Hyderabad on January 31, 2010. The analysis shows that the stakeholders develop different orientation based on the ＂stage of need hierarchy they are in＂ and the attributes they use to evaluate the outcome. The paper concludes that the views of the activist groups based on their limited understanding could get the introduction of Bt brinjal stalled as the companies failed in public communication and education. Policy implications are drawn for government consideration.展开更多
文摘Bt cotton a genetically modified （GM） crop has provided higher yields and profits for the farmers in India since its introduction in 2002. The environmentalists across the globe have however expressed the concern on the use of GM crops as they feel that they would cause environmental damage and they are not safe for human consumption. In the meantime, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee （the regulatory body for GM crops in India） evaluated the development process of Bt brinjal （eggplant） and has given its approval for commercial cultivation. This further aggravated the GM controversy; while the farmers are interested in cultivating Bt brinjal, the activists against GM crops have been protesting against the introduction of these hybrids stating that adequate tests have not been done to check on the safety of Bt brinjal. This controversy prompted the Minister of Environment of India Government to hold public consultations across India to access the views of the stakeholders. Based on the public consultations, the minister ＂put on hold the commercial introduction of Bt brinjal＂ on February 9, 2010. This paper analyses the view points of stakeholders collected at the public consultation held at Hyderabad on January 31, 2010. The analysis shows that the stakeholders develop different orientation based on the ＂stage of need hierarchy they are in＂ and the attributes they use to evaluate the outcome. The paper concludes that the views of the activist groups based on their limited understanding could get the introduction of Bt brinjal stalled as the companies failed in public communication and education. Policy implications are drawn for government consideration.
