Biotech Country Facts & Trends in 2017, the Adoption of Bt Cotton in India
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biotech country Facts & trends India in 2017, the adoption of Bt cotton in india reached 93%, planted by 7.5 million farmers among the 10 major cotton growing states. Since 2015, India has been the market price and weather infestation of pink bollworm world’s top cotton producing conditions for cotton cultivation (PBW) due to the poor quality of country, achieving cotton in Kharif 2017. unauthorized sale of IR/HT cotton production of 37.7 million bales hybrids in India. in 2017, higher than 34.5 million A total of 7.5 million farmers bales in 2016. India produces in India planted 11.4 million It was estimated that around 3.5 more than a quarter of the hectares IR cotton in 2017, which million packets of illegal IR/HT world’s cotton. is 93% of the total 12.24 million cotton expressing both Roundup hectares of cotton grown in the Ready® events MON1445 and In 2017, India planted 11.4 country. MON88913 were planted on million hectares of IR (Bt) cotton, 800,000 hectares in 2017. The recording an increase of 600,000 The increase in IR cotton area unauthorized sale marked a hectares from 10.8 million and adoption rate showed major controversy due to PBW hectares in 2016. The significant farmers’ resilience to overcome infestation and crop failure in increase was due to favorable constraints including the some areas in Maharashtra. Biotech crops in india Bt technology accelerated the adoption of cotton hybrids in India, from 45% in 2002 to 96% in 2017. In 2017, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MOEF&CC) thoroughly assessed the safety and performance of GM mustard and recommended the environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid Dhara Mustard Hybrid -11 (DMH-11) and cotton increasing by 6% from the parental lines containing events previous year. bn 3.6 and modbs 2.99 developed using barnase, barstar, and bar Insect resistant (Bt) technology in genes developed by the Centre cotton hybrids delivered broad for Genetic Manipulation of Crop based benefits by saving losses Plants (CGMCP) of the University caused by American bollworm and of Delhi on May 11, 2017 (GEAC, boosting cotton yield to 500 kg lint 2017). per hectare. GM mustard is India’s first state- The next level of cotton yield of-the-art farm innovation that targeting to achieve the global will allow mustard farmers to average cotton yield of 700+ kg lint produce more per unit area. The per hectare can only be possible barnase-barstar technology of GM through the introduction of new mustard will accelerate mustard generation biotech traits including breeding programs of both public stacked traits, smart agronomy, and private sectors, resulting in and high yielding cotton cultivars. the introduction of high-yielding and superior mustard hybrids The recommendation of GEAC on capable of revolutionizing mustard GM mustard, which was based farming and edible oil production on a thorough assessment of in the country. the safety and performance of GM mustard shall not go into However, on October 26, oblivion. The moratorium on 2017, the MOEF&CC decided IR brinjal by MOEF&CC in 2010 to keep the matters related to cotton by US$21.1 billion in the has not yielded any outcome in the environmental release of 14-year period 2002 to 2016, and the last seven years, and thus transgenic mustard pending US$1.5 billion in 2016 alone. a careful consideration of the further review based on receipt recommendation of the regulatory of various representations from Fourteen peer-reviewed research agency on GM crops by MOEF&CC different stakeholders (MOEF&CC, studies have been conducted is immensely needed at this time. 2017). over the years, three studies were conducted prior to the During their meeting in 2016, the commercialization of Bt cotton source GEAC approved a large number of from 1998 to 2001, whereas events for different crops, focusing eleven studies were carried out ISAAA. 2017. Global Status of on cotton, maize, pigeonpea, and to assess ex-ante impact of Bt Commercialized Biotech/GM chickpea and issued permits for cotton, which were reported Crops in 2017: Biotech Crop event selection trials and biosafety during the post commercialization Adoption Surges as Economic research trials. of Bt cotton from 2002 to 2013. Benefits Accumate in 22 Years. The results of these studies on ISAAA Brief No. 53. ISAAA: Bt cotton were consistent with Ithaca, New York. BeneFits From Biotech crops the study undertaken by Gandhi in india and Namboodiri in 2006 showing yield gains of approximately A cumulative 75.5 million small- 31%, a significant 39% reduction holder cotton farmers planted in the number of insecticide For more information, contact: Bt cotton in the 16-year period sprays, leading to an 88% increase ISAAA SEAsiaCenter showing high repeat decision of in profitability, equivalent GS Khush Hall, IRRI planting IR cotton. to a substantial increase of Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines approximately US$250 per hectare Telefax: +63 49 5367216 Email: [email protected] Notably, the increase from 50,000 (Gandhi and Namboodiri, 2006). hectares of Bt cotton in 2002 to 10.8 million hectares in 2016, represents an unprecedented 228- conclusion fold increase in 14 years. India has achieved a great India was estimated to have stride in cotton production in www.isaaa.org enhanced farm income from IR 2017 with the area planted to IR .