The State government is yet to take a stand on transgenic trials on Jayadhar cotton, proposed to be conducted by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad.
“I am yet to get the file pertaining to Jayadhar cotton and a decision will be taken later. I will be able to comment only after going through it,” Minister of State for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda told The Hindu on Saturday.
The university has got permission from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to conduct event selection trials on Jayadhar cotton, which is grown exclusively in Dharwad, Koppal, Haveri, Bellary and Gadag districts in the State.
The GEAC, while permitting transgenic trials, asked the university to get a no objection certificate (NOC) from the State government, following which the university wrote to the government.
When asked if the government has taken a stand on allowing research on genetically modified crops in general, Mr. Gowda said, “I am yet to get the file on Jayadhar cotton and I will have to go through it.”
