Notwithstanding the controversies dogging it, Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech
Limited is expecting 30 to 40 per cent growth in demand for its flagship Bt
cotton (Bollgard I and II hybrids) this kharif.
Raj Ketkar, Joint Managing Director, MMBL told press persons here on
Thursday that growth had been ?phenomenal? during the last five years across
nine cotton growing states. The acreage under Bt cotton rose from 72,000
acres in the first year (2002) to 8.7 million acres in 2006.

About 2.2 million farmers have planted Bollgard and Bollgard II
hybrids across the nine cotton growing states, ?showing increased
acceptability?.

Sheep mortality

Referring to the sheep and goat mortality in Adilabad and Warangal,
Mr. Ketkar and R. K. Sinha, Executive Director, All India Crop Biotechnology
Association dismissed it as ?localised phenomenon?. In its ten years of
global Bt cotton experience, there has not been a single instance of harm to
an animal that grazed on Bt plant material.

They admitted that there has been no major field study after the
commercial release of the Bt cotton. Nor was there a plausible explanation
on cause of recurring deaths.

They explained that tests were conducted including evaluation of
bio-safety data and feeding studies before the Bt cotton was released for
commercial cultivation afterapproval from the Genetic Engineering Approval
Committee.

Studies at the Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis, IVRI
Rae Bareilly on goats and in laboratory rats fed with leftover Bt cotton
indicated ?no untoward clinical effects?.


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