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Deal to sell unapproved cotton seeds
Posted by: Prof. Dr. M. Raupp (IP Logged)
Date: June 04, 2007 08:24AM
By Aftab Maken
ISLAMABAD - Two leading research institutes for developing Bt cotton locally have signed commercial agreements with two private marketing firms for the sale of unapproved varieties of cotton.
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad and Centre of Excellence Molecular Biology (CEMB) have entered into a deal with two seed marketing companies, namely Ali Akbar Sons and FMC.
The deal was aimed at marketing Bt cotton seeds before their approval from the departments concerned, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Livestock was told here on Thursday.
The illegal sale of Bt cotton seeds came as the two research institutes with the blessing of ministries were hesitant to follow set procedures. In the absence of approved Bt cotton varieties, the seed mafia under the patronage of local agriculture and district administration is taking full advantage of the situation and minting money.
The NA committee meeting, chaired by Makhdoom Ahmed Alam Anwar, MNA, expressed anger that the two public institutes, which were assigned the task to produce Bt cotton with public money, entered into the deal with the private sector for making money and providing unapproved seeds to the farmers.
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) had failed to monitor and develop guidelines to check the illegal sale of Bt cotton seeds in Punjab, Makhdoom Anwar said.
"It will be disastrous for Pakistan in the longer term if the two institutes are allowed to supersede rules and procedures for marketing their new cotton technology," observed Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada, MNA and member of the committee. He urged the ministry to continue its support for the research institutes working under it for producing better results.
The issue arose only because there was no system for the approval of Bt cotton, said Dr Rozina Tufail.
At present, two Bt cotton varieties, one each from NIBGE and CEMB - are illegally sold in the market and one of the varieties, developed by NIBGE, is in the process of approval
[www.thenews.com.pk]
ISLAMABAD - Two leading research institutes for developing Bt cotton locally have signed commercial agreements with two private marketing firms for the sale of unapproved varieties of cotton.
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad and Centre of Excellence Molecular Biology (CEMB) have entered into a deal with two seed marketing companies, namely Ali Akbar Sons and FMC.
The deal was aimed at marketing Bt cotton seeds before their approval from the departments concerned, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Livestock was told here on Thursday.
The illegal sale of Bt cotton seeds came as the two research institutes with the blessing of ministries were hesitant to follow set procedures. In the absence of approved Bt cotton varieties, the seed mafia under the patronage of local agriculture and district administration is taking full advantage of the situation and minting money.
The NA committee meeting, chaired by Makhdoom Ahmed Alam Anwar, MNA, expressed anger that the two public institutes, which were assigned the task to produce Bt cotton with public money, entered into the deal with the private sector for making money and providing unapproved seeds to the farmers.
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) had failed to monitor and develop guidelines to check the illegal sale of Bt cotton seeds in Punjab, Makhdoom Anwar said.
"It will be disastrous for Pakistan in the longer term if the two institutes are allowed to supersede rules and procedures for marketing their new cotton technology," observed Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada, MNA and member of the committee. He urged the ministry to continue its support for the research institutes working under it for producing better results.
The issue arose only because there was no system for the approval of Bt cotton, said Dr Rozina Tufail.
At present, two Bt cotton varieties, one each from NIBGE and CEMB - are illegally sold in the market and one of the varieties, developed by NIBGE, is in the process of approval
[www.thenews.com.pk]
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