Bt cotton seeds BT COTTON: MIXED VIEWS ON GM CROPS Cotton is leading commercial crop grown in India for its valuable fiber. The crop is highly susceptible in insects, and 50% of total insecticides used in the country are applied only to cotton. India had adopted three Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in 2002. The adoption had been approved by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Government of India. Bt cotton is resistant to bollworms, the major cause of high yields losses. In India, Bt cotton was introduced after conducting several tests and experiments to assess its safety and agronomic benefits. The GEAC had approved of Bt cotton based on reports from experiments conducted, and finally declared it to be safe. Many Indian companies had shown their interest in this technology. By 2007, GEAC had approved almost 131 Bt cotton hybrids developed by 24 companies. However, the introduction of any new technology requires careful evaluation of long-term sustainable benefits. The transgenic hybrids were first introduced in March 2002 by MAHYCO (Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company Limited) inn collaboration with Monsanto (an American multinational agriculture biotechnology corporation). Several suicides had occurred in Maharashtra due to crop failures and the mounting debts of cotton farmers. Many farmers found it very expensive to implement genetically modified (GM) cultivation of crop, and those who did could not obtain results as per the promises from the GM crop companies. The Use of GM seeds in cotton crops and the failures were evaluated by Monsanto. After detailed study it was found the use of BT cotton seed in cotton required technical training to the farmers in the Dos and Don’ts of the sowing of the crop the farmers bought the seeds and sowed them using the tradition method instead of scientifically using them, the company was worried and put up a intensive control system to monitor each and every bag of the seed sold from the dealers counter and imparted training and guidance to each farmer using the seed. The years to come saw a large increase in usage of the same The company Monsanto also started licensing the various seed companies in giving them the BT strain and technology for producing the same. What led to Monsanto introduce GM cotton seeds in India. What in your view was the rational to license the technology for the product? Explain the need for Monsanto to monitor the usage of the seeds was it necessary? What modalities the company would have taken to monitor each bag of the seed sold to the farmers.
Bt cotton seeds
BT COTTON: MIXED VIEWS ON GM CROPS
Cotton is leading commercial crop grown in India for its valuable fiber. The crop is highly susceptible in insects, and 50% of total insecticides used in the country are applied only to cotton. India had adopted three Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in 2002. The adoption had been approved by the Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee (GEAC), the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Government of India.
Bt cotton is resistant to bollworms, the major cause of high yields losses. In India, Bt cotton was introduced after conducting several tests and experiments to assess its safety and agronomic benefits. The GEAC had approved of Bt cotton based on reports from experiments conducted, and finally declared it to be safe. Many Indian companies had shown their interest in this technology. By 2007, GEAC had approved almost 131 Bt cotton hybrids developed by 24 companies.
However, the introduction of any new technology requires careful evaluation of long-term sustainable benefits. The transgenic hybrids were first introduced in March 2002 by MAHYCO (Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company Limited) inn collaboration with Monsanto (an American multinational agriculture biotechnology corporation). Several suicides had occurred in Maharashtra due to crop failures and the mounting debts of cotton farmers. Many farmers found it very expensive to implement genetically modified (GM) cultivation of crop, and those who did could not obtain results as per the promises from the GM crop companies. The Use of GM seeds in cotton crops and the failures were evaluated by Monsanto. After detailed study it was found the use of BT cotton seed in cotton required technical training to the farmers in the Dos and Don’ts of the sowing of the crop the farmers bought the seeds and sowed them using the tradition method instead of scientifically using them, the company was worried and put up a intensive
The company Monsanto also started licensing the various seed companies in giving them the BT strain and technology for producing the same.
- What led to Monsanto introduce GM cotton seeds in India. What in your view was the rational to license the technology for the product?
- Explain the need for Monsanto to monitor the usage of the seeds was it necessary? What modalities the company would have taken to monitor each bag of the seed sold to the farmers.
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