US biotech major Monsanto, which had earlier launched insect-resistant
genetically modified BT cotton, plans to soon come out with drought-tolerant
GM maize and cotton seeds, a senior company official said.
The drought-tolerant cotton and maize seeds were already undergoing
field trials in the US. Once launched in India, it would help farmers as
most of the agriculture in the country was rain-fed, Rajendra Ketkar, deputy
managing director of Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) Ltd, told PTI.

Monsanto was also developing weed-resistant GM cotton seeds, for which
trials were going on in Australia, Ketkar said, adding this would take a
couple of years.

India's farm productivity is as low as one-third of the world average
and raising yield using hybrid and genetically modified variety would help
the country to raise output three times without bringing additional area
under cultivation.

Ketkar claimed four million farmers have switched over to genetically
modified BT cotton (bollgard) in nine states and nearly half of the 22
million acres under cotton cultivation in the country was now using this
variety.

On the drought-resistant varieties, he said "this would be a great
boost to farmers located in highly dry areas or who just depend on
irrigation for their farming".

The field trials for maize (corn) were being carried out in the US and
cotton trait was undergoing testing, he said, adding Monsanto makes huge
investment in research and development, almost USD 700 million globally.

Ketkar said after the success of Bollgard I in terms of productivity,
quality and economics in the last decade, the company has developed a
superior trait Bollgard II and trials in over two-lakh acres have been held.


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