According to a study, Madhya Pradesh farmers exposed to Bt cotton suffered from respiratory problems Chennai RENOWNED organic farm scientist Dr G Nammalwar here on Monday cautioned the farmers against cultivating Bt Cotton which had the potential to turn their 1.75 lakh acres of fertile land across Tamil Nadu unproductive in a couple of years. Talking to journalists on the sidelines of a workshop on ecological solutions vs GM solutions, he said that the unnatural Bt cotton was being cultivated in vast tracts of land in Salem and Perambalur districts despite the fact that it would destroy the fertility of their cultivatable land. ''The companies promoting the GM varieties are ensuring that non-Bt cotton seeds are not available in the market,'' he alleged. He said that the worst part of the scenario was even the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) located in Coimbatore had started promoting Bt brinjal and tomatoes among the farmers. Speaking on the ill-effects of the genetic engineered (GE) rice crops, Michael Hansen, a scientist from the United States, pointed out that India could face an economic catastrophe, if it gave space for cultivating GM crops. He said,''Many countries had stopped importing rice from America, soon after the GE rice varieties were found contaminated.'' On the adverse effects of Bt cotton, he said, ''According to a study conducted in Madhya Pradesh, the farmers, who were exposed to Bt cotton, had suffered from respiratory problems.'' ''It is an illusion that GM crops will reduce the use of pesticides. But the reality is that these genetically modified crops require more pesticide and water when compared to normal crops,'' he said. The workshop also adopted resolutions seeking immediate intervention of the government on the sensitive issue.