Bt cotton to be introduced after ascertaining impact

New Delhi, Nov 4: Union agriculture minister Ajit Singh on Sunday said the controversial Bt cotton would be introduced only after ascertaining that the Genetically Modified (GM) crop had no adverse impact on environment and human health for which final round of trials are on.

Strongly favouring introduction of Bt cotton in the next cropping season to multiply productivity, he said that field tests conducted so far on Bt cotton have not shown any kind of adverse impact on environment, bio-diversity, human and animal health. "I hope sowing of the GM seed may be allowed if the final results are also positive.
Final trial results of the Genetically Modified crop is likely to be known within two months", he said, describing as "unfortunate" moves to destroy Bt cotton grown by farmers in Gujarat. Asserting that farmers would be able to reap rich dividends by cultivating Bt cotton, Mr Singh said it is expected to bring about a revolution by enhancing productivity by about 30 to 35 per cent.

It is all the more necessary to clear the path for GM crops in view of losses to the tune of Rs 700 crore suffered by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan with cotton crop in these states getting affected by bollworm, he said.

On Bt cotton grown in about 10,000 acres in Gujarat, he said burning the crop would not provide any solution and moreover "it was not the fault of the farmers as they obtained GM seeds which were sold to them". Mr Singh said "the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) should procure the Bt cotton grown by farmers in Gujarat, quarantine it and store it in their godowns .... at least the lint needs to be preserved".

— PTI