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India:Sale of Monsanto''s BT cottonseeds up |
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2004-9-9
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The US seed giant Monsanto Co. said Tuesday it has sold 1.3 million packets of genetically modified cotton seeds in India this year, recording an almost five-fold increase over 2003-04 sales running up June to August, 2004.
"The stronger sales demonstrate that the Indian farmer is willing to adopt a technology that delivers consistent benefits from reduced pesticide use and increased income," said Ranjana Smetacek, the spokeswoman of the Indian operations of St. Louis, Missouri-based Monsanto Inc.
Monsanto the first to be allowed to sell genetically engineered cottonseed in India, sold 230,000 packets of 450 grams each and in 2002, the first year , it sold around 72,000 packets.
Monsanto''s BT cotton, the only genetically modified crop allowed in India, has faced stiff opposition from environmental groups, which dampened its sales in the last two years.
Monsanto''s office in the southern city of Bangalore was last year attacked by protesters.
Critics say the adverse effects of GM seeds have not been studied adequately, that the seeds are environmentally hazardous and could contaminate the genes of native varieties through cross pollination, eventually making farmers poorer.
However, advocates of genetic modification say it helps fight plant diseases, increase yield and improves the nutritive value of food crops.
BT stands for bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium whose gene is injected into cottonseeds to give them resistance against boll worms, a major concern for farmers in India.
Only six of its 29 Indian states have been allowed to plant Monsanto Bt cottonseeds. These six states are in the western and southern parts of the country. Now, some farmers from the northern regions are illegally planting BT cotton.
Four strains of BT cottonseeds are currently sold in India and scientists have developed at least one Indian variant of Monsanto''s seeds. |
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