Despite Maharashtra agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar's call for a ban on the herbicide tolerant (HT) genetically modified cotton, Delhi-based South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) has claimed that the illegal market is worth about Rs 472 crore.
As per the SABC, about 35 lakh packets of illegal HT cotton hybrids were sold this kharif season across Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra, Odisha, Karnataka and MP. Around 8.5 lakh hectares, or 7% of the total cotton growing area in the country, is under the illegal HT cultivation.
SABC founder and president CD Mayee told TOI that he had obtained some HT cotton samples about four years ago and got them tested for the presence of glyphospate tolerant gene. The SABC then wrote to the Centre's Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) about the illegal sale and cultivation of HT cotton on September 5 this year. Through it, the body appealed to the central and the state governments to seriously look into the issue of rampant illegal and spurious sale of HT cotton, locate and destroy the illegal hybrid seeds production plots. Though HT cotton is being grown in Brazil, USA and some countries from 1998, it has not been technically and officially approved in India so far.
SABC is a non-profit organisation backed by top scientists. Mayee was earlier Union agriculture commissioner and chairman of Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board. Following Mayee's letter, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change had written to the Maharashtra principal secretary (agriculture) Bijay Kumar to take action. Kumar wrote back to GEAC on September 29, that it was unfortunate the MoEF and ICAR are in “a fruitless communication with each other on such a serious matter“. “Communication received from you does not mention any SOPs for taking any action,“ the letter read.
Sources said Bt cotton was also brought in illegally in Gujarat in 2000 and later distributed in the entire country. Officially Bt came to India only two years later. Then, too, the state and central governments had sat over reports.
Monsanto denies charges of illegal seed sale.
International firm Monsanto, which makes GM Bt cotton seeds, has denied charges of selling unauthorised herbicide-resistant seeds in India. Kishore Tiwari, chairman of Maharashtra government's taskforce to handle agrarian crisis, had alleged that the company sold the GM seeds illegally in India. “Monsanto does not stand to gain anything from the sale of illegal seeds, the only persons to make any financial gains are the illegal sellers of these unapproved technologies,“ the firm said.
As per the SABC, about 35 lakh packets of illegal HT cotton hybrids were sold this kharif season across Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra, Odisha, Karnataka and MP. Around 8.5 lakh hectares, or 7% of the total cotton growing area in the country, is under the illegal HT cultivation.
SABC founder and president CD Mayee told TOI that he had obtained some HT cotton samples about four years ago and got them tested for the presence of glyphospate tolerant gene. The SABC then wrote to the Centre's Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) about the illegal sale and cultivation of HT cotton on September 5 this year. Through it, the body appealed to the central and the state governments to seriously look into the issue of rampant illegal and spurious sale of HT cotton, locate and destroy the illegal hybrid seeds production plots. Though HT cotton is being grown in Brazil, USA and some countries from 1998, it has not been technically and officially approved in India so far.
SABC is a non-profit organisation backed by top scientists. Mayee was earlier Union agriculture commissioner and chairman of Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board. Following Mayee's letter, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change had written to the Maharashtra principal secretary (agriculture) Bijay Kumar to take action. Kumar wrote back to GEAC on September 29, that it was unfortunate the MoEF and ICAR are in “a fruitless communication with each other on such a serious matter“. “Communication received from you does not mention any SOPs for taking any action,“ the letter read.
Sources said Bt cotton was also brought in illegally in Gujarat in 2000 and later distributed in the entire country. Officially Bt came to India only two years later. Then, too, the state and central governments had sat over reports.
Monsanto denies charges of illegal seed sale.
International firm Monsanto, which makes GM Bt cotton seeds, has denied charges of selling unauthorised herbicide-resistant seeds in India. Kishore Tiwari, chairman of Maharashtra government's taskforce to handle agrarian crisis, had alleged that the company sold the GM seeds illegally in India. “Monsanto does not stand to gain anything from the sale of illegal seeds, the only persons to make any financial gains are the illegal sellers of these unapproved technologies,“ the firm said.