Trade 26-09-2021 Hits: 2912

Almost a year after the SIT report, the government has neglected to take action against the illicit sale of Bt cotton seeds

Trade 26-09-2021 Hits: 2912

Cotton

Trade 26-09-2021 Hits: 2912

25th September 2021, Mumbai:

Almost A year after the Maharashtra government received the report from the special investigation team (SIT) created to look into the problem of unlicensed transgenic cotton seed sales, no action has been done.

The SIT, led by IPS officer Krishna Prakash, delivered its findings in October after conducting an extensive investigation into the matter, which has turned into a significant policy concern in the country.

60-65 lakh packets of unapproved herbicide-tolerant (Ht) Bt cotton were distributed among the 4-4.5 crore packets of cotton seeds sold in the country this season. In India, cotton is the only genetically modified crop that may be grown commercially.

Only BT cotton (obtained by introducing the foreign genes Cry1Ab and Cry2Bc) is allowed. Aside from that, farmers prefer the second generation of BT cotton or herbicide-tolerant HT Bt cotton (which includes another foreign gene, Cp4Epsps). This transgenic version permits farmers to employ the broad-spectrum weedicide Glyphosate, which Bt cotton cannot tolerate.

Given this benefit, weed management accounts for more than 40% of the total cost of production. Farmers are increasingly putting their faith in Ht Bt cotton since agricultural labor is both scarce and expensive.

This transgenic variant's seed is frequently obtained illegally for a high price. The agriculture department of the state government has filed many FIRs, but no permanent solution to the matter has been discovered.

The SIT was established by the state government in 2018 with the mission of delving into the issue and making suggestions for future steps. Officials who spoke to The Indian Express on the condition of anonymity claimed the study included a number of recommendations for regulating the sale of illicit Ht Bt cotton seeds.

One of the proposals is to create indigenous and cost-effective weed-control technologies. Weed control accounts for almost 40% of production costs, according to the research, and is a key issue for farmers.

The research proposed that weed management methods, such as mechanical and other equipment, be created to aid farmers to avoid choosing this option.

Unauthorized Bt Cotton Seeds worth 1.36 Lakh Seized in Guntur