August 2007
August 23, Daily News & Analysis	An unsung revolution in cotton country In 2007-08, India will have a bumper cotton crop that is expected to cross the 300-lakh bale-mark. This progress, when seen against 158 lakh bales in 2001-02 and 136 lakh bales in 2002-03, is tremendous. The boost in yield is due to large-scale cultivation of hybrids and Bt seeds, added to a good monsoon season. Increased use of genetically modified seeds covering 60% of the total land under cultivation along with better agricultural methods have resulted in better output in the current year. Farmers have taken up to growing cotton, as transgenic varieties involve lesser risks and higher returns. Commercial cultivation of Bt cotton has taken productivity from less than 300 kgs per hectare in 2000-01 to currently over 500.
August 17,The Hindu Business Line	GEAC clears large-scale trial of Bt brinjal Currently, the only GM crop to be cultivated commercially in India is cotton. Now Mahyco has acquired permission of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to do large-scale trials of seven GM brinjal hybrids, MHB-4, 9, 10, 80, 99, 11 and 39. These hybrids have a foreign gene, from a soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which synthesises proteins toxic to the fruit and shoot borer. The gene is pest-resistant and will reduce the expenditure on pesticides for the farmer. These trials would be India’s first transgenic food crop. The cry1Ac gene is a product of Monsanto, which Mahyco is sourcing.
August 07,The Economic Times	GMO crops launch delay hurts seed industry The federal government approved of BT Cotton in 2002, but after that it has refrained from giving the go ahead for the commercialisation of any other genetically modified (GMO) crop. The government’s policy has not been encouraging for biotechnology agriculture. Bt cotton has resulted in higher yields and reduced spending on pesticides; due to this, many farmers are in favour of their use. In 2007, it is expected that more than 50% of area under cotton will be covered by GMO cotton. Many firms have made strong investments of as much as 15% of their revenue for GMO crops.
August 07	Industry players say state intervention in prices curbing growth Indian government’s hesitation of whole heartedly accepting GM crops other than cotton is not good for the biotech seed companies. Though Bt cotton received government approval in 2002, other crops have not been given the go ahead. After the commercialisation of Bt cotton, many seed companies are continuing to invest large sums for the development of GM crops.
August 04,BS Reporter	Andhra traders see bumper cotton crop In 2007-08, around 2,500,000 hectares will be covered with Bt cotton in the state of Andhra Pradesh, as against 2,000,000 hectares in 2006-07. Traders estimate an output of 5,000,000 bales as against 3,000,000 bales last year. Bt cotton growing farmers spent lesser on pesticides last year and collected good revenues. In the current year, Bt cotton varieties have almost taken over the traditional ones.
August 04,BS Reporter	Bengal to raise cotton area to 5000 acres In the state of West Bengal, the government has started working to increase the current area of 500-700 acre under cotton cultivation to 5,000 acre by end of the 11th five-year plan. Narendra Nath Dey, the state’s minister for agriculture, said that the Indian Statistical Institution would enlighten farmers about advantages of biotechnology in crop cultivation, as the technology is significant for realizing food security.