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India takes
baby steps to genetically modified crops, Greens fume
BOMBAY - India's path-breaking move to allow commercial
production of genetically modified (GM) cotton hybrids has
raised prospects for other transgenic crops even though it
could be years before most win approval, analysts say.
In a nation of over a billion people, GM technology offers
India the tool to boost abysmally low farm yields, raising
hopes for more such crops like potato, tomato, rice and
mustard.
But the technique is strongly opposed by environmentalists and
some farm groups who fear its effects on health and the
environment.
Only research projects were allowed before the government's
decision last week which followed more than five years of
extensive lab and field trials.
"We have allowed lab or field trials for nine GM crops," said
P K Ghosh, adviser to the federal Department of Biotechnology.
It will take as long as five years to win approval for
commercial planting since most of the research for the other
crops are in the early stages and must pass lengthy tests, he
said.
The earliest to get off the blocks is likely to be mustard,
whose oil is the most widely used in the preparation of food
in northern India.
Delhi-based Proagro PGS India Ltd, part of Aventis SA's
Aventis Cropscience unit, plans to seek government approval
later this year to commercially produce GM mustard.
"We have been working on genetically modified mustard hybrid
for the past six years," said Paresh Verma, director
(research) of Proagro Seed Company Ltd, another firm focusing
on research.
"We are seeing 25 to 30 percent more yield."
BOOSTING YIELDS: Traders say the gene-alteres Bt (bacillus
thuringiensis) cotton is expected to raise the yields by
controlling bollworm, responsible for over 80 percent of pest
attacks on Indian cotton.
The average yield of cotton in India, the third largest
producer in the world, is about half the global average of
over 600 kg (1,320 lbs) per hectare, despite having the
largest area under cotton cultivation of nearly nine million
hectares (22 million acres).
"The Bt cotton will break the yield barrier of about 300 kg
per hectare in India," said Suresh Kotak, president of the
East India Cotton Association.
India has allowed production of three GM cotton hybrids,
developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) in
collaboration with US bio-technology giant Monsanto Co
Farm scientists say yields of Bt cotton could rise 15 to 30
percent.
Traders forecast output may touch about 20 million bales (of
170 kg each) in three to four years from nearly 16 million
bales now.
But the results may not be visible in the coming season
beginning in May as Mahyco is unlikely to meet a spurt in seed
demand.
"Mahyco had permission for limited seed production last year,"
said a spokeswoman of the Indian arm of Monsanto, adding that
total seed available with the company would be sufficient only
for 100,000 acres.
Mahyco, in which Monsanto has a 26 percent stake, started
field trials of its Bt cotton in 1996/97.
"In the coming three years, I don't see another bio-tech crop
from Monsanto reaching commercial stage in India," the
Monsanto spokeswoman said.
GREENS SEE RED: While government officials and the industry
hailed the decision to permit GM cotton, environmentalists
slammed the move.
"The government has ignored some of the most serious problems
of Bt cotton in its attempts to rush this product to the
market," said Ganesh Nochur, campaign director of Greenpeace
India.
A spokeswoman for the Centre for Science and Environment said:
"Concerns relating to genetic contamination and health hazards
should have been properly investigated before granting the
approval."
Delhi-based non-governmental group Research Foundation for
Science, Technology and Ecology, said Bt cotton produced a
toxin that triggered a rapid emergence of resistance in
bollworm.
"Instead of the plant being resistant, the bollworm becomes
resistant to Bt toxin," it said.
But farm activist Sharad Joshi said the lobby of "pesticide
makers and pseudo-scientists" had deprived Indian farmers for
at least seven years in getting access to the GM technology.
"If it is dangerous, we can go back.
But there is no point in closing the doors on the new
technology."-Reuters
courtesy Daily Business
recorder , 6
April, 2002
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