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Mahyco-Monsanto plans big push for Bt cotton

Commodities Bureau

After receiving approval from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee for the commercial production of Bt cotton, the Monsanto-Mahyco combine has drawn up extensive plans for the sale of these genetically modified seeds.

However, in the first year, supply of seeds would be restricted to areas where the company had conducted its trials, a Monsanto official said.

Speaking to Business Standard, Raj Ketkar, deputy managing-director of Mahyco Monsanto Biotech, India, said: "The seeds will be marketed through MMB before the next cotton season begins. This year, we will supply seeds in the areas where majority of our trials were conducted, and where the farmers are familiar with the benefits of this product."

The company has conducted around 500 trials in the past three years to test the suitability of these genetically modified seeds in Indian conditions.

"Though the prices will be higher than conventional hybrids, it will be in a range which farmers will be willing to pay," Ketkar said. Against the price of Rs 300-500 of conventional hybrids, Bt cotton seeds will be priced between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,800 per packet of 450 gms. A packet will be sufficient for one acre and will come with 20 per cent conventional seeds, thus providing seeds for 1.2 acre.

Justifying the price, Ketkar said, "The average extra monetary benefit a farmer derives by using Bt cotton is around Rs 4,000-5,000 per hectare. This is because of less expenditure on pesticides and chemicals and better yield."

Monsanto is also planning to bring more advanced varieties of genetically modified cotton seeds into the country. Ketkar said newer gene constructs would also require agronomic trials before getting approval.

However, he added that the company had no plans to bring genetically modified seeds of other crops for another 3-4 years, but would stress on their Indian core areas such as herbicides, genetic traits and seeds.

Ketkar said the conditions imposed by the GEAC for cultivation of genetically modified crops were almost similar to the ones in countries that have permitted it. "Trial studies were also conducted to test if the seed had any detrimental effect on the soil, flora and fauna," he said.

The condition (refuge planting) that farmers should grow non-genetically modified crop along with the genetically modified one is also applicable in the US. "This is very helpful since the American bollworm pest feeds on around 160 known crops and species. Therefore, the cotton crop remains safe," he added.

India is the eighth country in the world that has put in place bio-safety norms. Monsanto is also contemplating entering Pakistan, a major cotton producer.

On the issue of pests developing resistance to the genetically modified cotton, Ketkar said, "We have submitted a plan to the Indian government on insect resistance management. Under it, we have outlined three factors: introducing varieties that have a high dose of protein to destroy the insect, refuge planting and bringing new products like bollguard 2 to control resistance."

Moreover, he added that till date there were no reports of insects developing resistance to Bt cotton.

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