Potential of Bangladeshi Bt brinjal
Bangladesh has approved commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) eggplant, known as Bt brinjal, which is resistant to insect damage, which marks a significant breakthrough after seven years of research.
Once, it was locally believed that brinjal has no benefits (Nai gun, Begun), but now our cultivated eggplants are being exported to foreign countries.
Genetic modification (GM) of crops is one of the most controversial and polarising issues in global agriculture. GM crops are contested by environmental activists who express concerns over food safety, even as scientists are expanding research on transgenic crops to tackle drought, salinity and pest-related problems in agriculture.
Bangladesh is now the 29th country in the world to commercially farm a GM crop. The environment ministry has already approved four varieties of Bt Brinjal. The country has achieved a new market by successfully exporting the new brinjal variety.
As a Bangladeshi, I feel proud of that, but health and environment issues should also be kept in mind. We expect to see more progress and success in this sector. We hope, someday, the brinjal will become the golden fruit of Bangladesh.
Sumaiya Bushra
Banashree, Dhaka
