Islamabad, Pakistan
May 5, 2008
Source:
Business Recorder via
Pakistan Biotechnology
Information Center (PABIC)
By Fida Hussain
The
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) has
recommended introduction of two Bt cotton varieties for general
cultivation as sowing of unauthorised varieties is continuing,
and the provinces are least equipped to stop this illegal
exercise.
Sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that the Centre of
Excellence for Molecular Biology (CEMB), Punjab University, has
submitted two varieties of Bt cotton to Pakistan Central Cotton
Committee (PCCC).
The new varieties, named as CEMB-X CIM-482 Bt, and CEMB-X MNH-93
Bt, were also recommended for testing on pilot project basis by
the Ministry of Environment's National Bio-safety Committee
(NBC).
According to sources, PCCC conducted testing of these varieties
for one year, through National Co-ordinated Variety Trials
(NCVT). The Minfal is of the view that these varieties may be
sent to the provincial seed councils for approval. The ministry
says that these varieties should be approved without any further
testing, sources added.
At a recent meeting of all stakeholders including the Planning
Commission, PCCC and others, the issue was discussed in detail.
According to sources, Minfal was advised not to go for the
introduction of the new varieties in haste as a variety
introduced by the National Institute for Biotechnology and
Genetic Engineering (Nibge was rejected at the last moment.
Nibge's variety was rejected by the NBC because the Nibge used a
gene which was already used by Monsanto Seed Company. Due to
this, the Minfal plan of starting growing of Bt cotton in an
area of about 5,000 acres in Sindh and Punjab during the last
Kharif season met total failure.
The Bt cotton is no more a new concept in Pakistan as this
variety has been sown without getting the varieties tested and
approved from the National Agriculture Research System (NARS).
Independent agricultural experts are of the view that concerned
government authorities are proceeding slowly in introducing the
new technology in farming while the regional countries,
including China and India, were going well ahead of Pakistan.
Most of the countries in North and South Americas and a
considerable number of countries in Asia have made significant
progress on introducing biotech (Bt) crops for increasing
productivity.
According to a report, Bt cotton contributed significantly to
the yield increase in cotton in India from 308 kg lint per
hectare in 2001-02 to 450 kg lint per hectare in 2005-06.
In turn in yield from Bt cotton has been a major contributor to
increased exports from India, which soared from 0.9 million
bales in 2005 to 4.7 million bales in 2006. The three most
populous countries in Asia--China, India and Indonesia--are
already planting millions of acres of genetically modified
cotton.
Courtesy Business Recorder
Source by: pakistan.com
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