Government shoots down Bt Cotton for north Indian states

GEAC chairperson Sushma Choudhary said, ‘‘This variety, Mech 915, has not been found resistant to cotton leaf curl virus. This cannot be introduced as it is not resistant. So it has not been approved.’’ The GEAC approval is needed for field trials and commercial production of genetically modified crops.

The official statement said: ‘‘…the Committee was of the view that cotton production in the north (India) could be adversely affected by wide-spread cultivation of Mech-915.’’ This short-duration hybrid was meant particularly for Punjab and Haryana, where it would have come to harvest in September-October. This variety was found to be susceptible to the leaf curl virus which the committee finds is ‘‘rampant in the area where it is to be grown.’’

Another variety of Bt Cotton is being already grown in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. These states were given the go-ahead last year by the GEAC for growing three varieties of Bt Cotton hybrid, Mech 12, Mech 162 and Mech 184.

However, a member on the committee says that another important consideration for the decision has been the economic inviablity of the seed in drought conditions. ‘‘Because of the drought conditions, there has been low incidence of boll worm. Which is why the non-Bt Cotton variety proved to be cheaper and suitable,’’ the member adds. Bt Cotton seeds sell on an average of Rs 1,600 per 450 grams, whereas non-Bt Cotton varieties sell on an average of Rs 300-Rs 400 per 450 grams.

MAHYCO’s Managing Director Raju Barwale said his company would continue to push for the technology to be used. ‘‘While MAHYCO is disappointed at not receiving clearance for MECH 915, we will continue to work within the government’s regulatory system to bring the benefits of this technology to cotton farmers of northern India,’’ a company spokeswoman quoted Barwale as saying.

The GEAC has today also found the trials of genetically modified transgenic mustard, conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ‘‘inconclusive.’’

The committee ordered fresh trials on the mustard saying, ‘‘The ICAR has now been advised to conduct further trails to address all issues regarding agronomic superiority, cross ability, gene flow and resistance to herbicide,’’ the statement said.