A flourishing unlawful commerce in a brand new unapproved herbicide-tolerant selection has come to occupy almost a fifth of the genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds market in India. Over three dozen seed corporations, that are authorised to promote the transgenic Bt cotton by licence-holder Bayer Crop Science-Mahyco, warn that the unlawful seeds, first seen available in the market in 2019, might contaminate the common Bt seed and result in “heavy losses” for cotton growers. However, farmers’ organisations say because the unapproved seeds assist them in weed administration and reduce prices, they might proceed to make use of it.
Sources say the unlawful seeds are being offered at a 60% premium over the government-fixed value of Rs 810 per packet for normal Bt cotton.
Central to the difficulty is the refusal of the regulator — the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) — to contemplate the Bayer-Mahyco’s software for the brand new herbicide-tolerant Bt (HTBt) cotton.
The unlawful seed producers, who’re principally based mostly out of Gujarat, declare the presence of herbicide trait within the seeds they promote are able to controlling pink bollworm. Farmers additionally appear to endorse this declare from their cropping expertise.
The approval for HTBt cotton was first sought by Bayer (then Monsanto) in 2015, however it withdrew the appliance within the subsequent 12 months, citing delays within the course of. Though the appliance was re-submitted by Bayer-Mahyco in December final 12 months, the regulator is but to take a name.
GM crop varieties are frequently modified by the proprietary corporations to reverse yield losses that begin surfacing after a couple of years of the primary use of a range. The concept, in response to them, is to make the seed able to going through recent pest challenges and thereby, enhance yield. Critics, nonetheless, say that is additionally at instances a technique by these companies for ever-greening of their patents/unique advertising rights.
Since its introduction 20 years in the past, Bt cotton has led to a dramatic rise in India’s cotton yield and thereby, manufacturing (see chart), however over the past two-three years, the yield has come down marginally.
In the 2020-21 crop 12 months (July-June,) the agriculture ministry whereas fixing the worth of a packet of Bt cotton-II abolished the trait worth payable to the licence holders (Bayer-Mahyco), permitting discount within the costs to the farmers. Bt cotton continues to be grown in round 92% of space beneath cotton of round 12-13 million hectare (mh) within the nation.
According to sources, farmer teams particularly these in Maharashtra and Gujarat are encouraging farmers to plant unapproved HTBt seeds in violation of presidency rules. HTBt vegetation permit farmers to spray herbicides to eliminate weeds with out harming the vegetation.
Since the introduction of Bollgard-I, which was the nation’s first GM crop authorised for commercialisation in 2002, adopted by Bollgard II, a pest-resistant selection which protects the crop from bollworm, in 2006, the GEAC has not authorised any new varieties.
According to Ram Kaundinya, director common of the Federation of Seed Industry for India, farmers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh use unlawful HtBt seeds for cultivation.
Between 2002-03 and 2013-14, which was the ‘golden period’ of Bt cotton, yield rose by 167% and manufacturing by 316% whereas space beneath cotton cultivation expanded by round 39%. “What happened after that was a technology fatigue and there was no upgradation of varieties coming through the GEAC approval system,” Kaundinya advised FE.
“Since the illegal seeds contain unknown and unapproved traits, these could contaminate regular seeds, thereby putting legitimate seed growers at risk,” says an official of a seed firm that sells authorised Bt cotton seeds.
Anil Ghanwat, president of Swatantra Bharat Party, and a member of the Supreme Court-appointed committee on farm regulation, stated that farmers would proceed to make use of unapproved seeds because it helps them improve manufacturing. “The government should facilitate faster approval of newly-developed seeds so that farmers get access to quality seeds and thereby, reduce the labour cost,” Ghanwat stated.
Cotton manufacturing within the 2021-22 crop 12 months (July-June) declined 5% to 34 million bales (MB) from its peak of 35.9 MB in 2013-14. Textile business sources stated until expertise intervention is expedited, India wouldn’t be capable of meet the cotton requirement of 45 MB within the coming 5 years.
Commercial cultivation of two GM meals crops – brinjal and mustard – authorised by GEAC are but to start out in India even a decade after the approvals as a result of the federal government hasn’t but determined in favour of GM meals.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”