Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India

A team of Delhi University scientists led by Prof Deepak Pental, geneticist and former vice chancellor of Delhi University had signed an agreement to hand over cotton plants containing the Bt bacterial gene with insecticidal properties. The gene is similar to the one which Indian regulators had approved in three hybrids thirteen years ago, except for a few amino acids. The developers claim it is two times more potent against bollworms, a deadly cotton pest. Since the research was publicly funded they want it used for non-profit purposes.

“They have to back cross this over the next two three years into their best varieties. If those varieties are given to the farmers by the agricultural departments we do not ask for anything. If they commercialise it then we have some share of the royalty which they have to give us.” said Deepak Pental.

Nagpur’s Central Institute of Cotton Research or CICR is the recipient of the cotton plants. It has straight varieties and hybrids suitable for the low rain and un-irrigated conditions of central India. Straight varieties are those whose seed farmers can save and sow unlike hybrids, which lose vigour if reused, and have to be bought every year. Private companies only offer Bt hybrids so they can recoup investment and make a profit.

Ironically, CICR’s seeds have been edged out of the market because they do not have the protective Bt gene in them. It hopes to claw back the acceptance they once enjoyed. It will have to grow the genetically modified plants in field conditions, test them for biosafety over three to four years before obtaining regulatory approval.

Punjab Agriculture University addresses the northern cotton zone, has been already working. It is developing hybrids with a private Bt gene. In April, PAU signed an agreement with Pental’s team to render its re-useable cotton seed varieties resistant to bollworms.

Farmers pay five to ten rupees to pick a kilogram of cotton, machine picking is also eagerly awaited. This means tailoring planting practices and plant structures to the requirement of machines. The dense cropping pattern which CICR advocates will require machines to harvest. Bt seed companies are also recommending hybrid plant populations of 14,000 an acre which is double the number they were earlier advising, but much less than the 44,000 that CICR is pushing for.

Spacing of fertilizer application, use of drips and limiting plant height so nutrients are not wasted in vegetative growth are other practices being suggested to reduce costs and improve profitability. Despite having the largest area under cotton and hybrids, India ranks 33 among 80 countries in productivity. Seed companies will continue to bring in new technology but farmers will have to match their agronomic practices so that the yield gap closes.

Source:http://www.skymetweather.com/