60 pc Bt cotton sown in Punjab unauthorised, claims official
19 Oct '05
2 min read
"Hybrid cotton seeds accounts for about 85-90 per cent of total area under cotton cultivation in Punjab. Out of that, some 90 per cent are Bt hybrids. From those Bt hybrids, about 60 per cent are unauthorised varieties," says Prof R B Singh, Member, National Commission on Farmers. Singh said, on the sidelines of a conference held to announce the commencement of a five-day seminar on legumes research here on Monday, last.
The total area under cotton cultivation in Punjab is about 5,80,000 hectares, as per official estimates.
The cotton yield in Punjab is expected to be 700-800 kg of lint per hectare compared to the national average of 400 kg of lint per hectare, he added.
"The unauthorised varieties are sold at almost half the price of Bt cotton seeds," said Singh. The Bt cotton varieties sold in Punjab include those of Ankur, Mahyco and Rasi seeds, he added.
According to the Union Agriculture Ministry, cotton sowing in Punjab is up 14 per cent this year, though on the national level it is down by 37,000 hectares to 85.21 lakh hectares.
The Cotton Advisory Board, a body comprising Government officials, trade and growers, has estimated the crop to be 255 lakh bales of 170 kg against 243 lakh bales during last season that ended in September.
Bt cotton is one of the main reasons for the sudden rise in the country's cotton production from around 170 lakh bales two seasons ago.
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