Islamabad, Pakistan
May 8, 2008
Source:
Business Recorder via
Pakistan Biotechnology
Information Center (PABIC)
By Arif Rana
The Economic Coordination
Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has turned down the proposal of
the
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) to form
a 5-member consultative committee for technical collaboration
with M/s Monsanto, an international firm, being hired for
introducing Bt cotton variety in Pakistan.
However, it approved the final draft of Letter of Intent (LoI)
for hiring M/s Monsanto
for the job. Sources said Minfal had proposed forming the
consultative committee in the ECC meeting held here on May 6,
and also submitted the names for its members. The meeting was
informed that the Law Division had vetted the draft and cleared
it for ECC approval.
Minfal Secretary gave the ECC a presentation on the procedure
followed by the government for hiring the reputed firm for
introducing Bt cotton in Pakistan. He said that seven
multinational companies (MNCs) including Monsanto, Pioneer,
Syngenta, ICI, Bayers, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences
China, were invited with a job to engage for research and
development of Bt cotton.
He added that the LoI was also circulated to all stakeholders
including the provincial governments for comments and their
views have been incorporated in the final draft.
M/s Monsanto will commercialise Bt cotton genes Bolligard and
Mon 531 and other newly developed varieties in Pakistan. It will
evaluate, develop and implement practical solutions to expand
cotton production in Pakistan. It will also evaluate potential
collaboration in other corps such as corn, soyabean and
vegetables. M/s Monsanto will also provide information to create
awareness about Bt cotton variety to all the stakeholders.
The ECC was presented a chart showing additional benefit reaped
by India for timely introducing Bt cotton variety. The chart
indicated that Bt cotton variety cut pest damage to the crop in
different states on average by 60 percent to increase yield per
acre by 4.3 maund an acre.
The presentation also included technology fee being paid by
different countries for brining in Bt cotton variety. Australia
was paying the highest fee for Bt cotton technology of $98.
India is paying only $42, less than half of the Australian
amount.
The meeting was informed that Pakistan's cotton crop was
vulnerable to several deadly pests' attacks due to the use of
uncertified seeds and it demands quick introduction of Bt cotton
variety.
Minfal Secretary was of the view that Bt cotton seed imported
from India in 20078 by the private sector was uncertified,
which, instead of resisting pests attacks, enhanced Pakistan's
cotton crop vulnerability for different deadly pests attacks. |
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