Seed companies partner research institutes for alternate hybrid tech

Seeds industry confident of supplying farmers high quality BT cotton seeds at affordable prices

While India is depending on imported hybrid cotton seed technology, Indian companies are now joining hands with research institutes to develop alternate technologies to replace the currently failed technology. 

According to seeds industry, alternate technology have become necessary to offer farmers options to choose from at competitive prices and yield.

For instance, Swarna Bharat Biotechnique Private Limited (SBBPL), a joint venture company of seven leading seed companies in India has joined hand with National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) an arm of the Central Cotton Research Institute (CICR).

The joint venture has completed development of Indian BT technology and the new seed is now expected to be launched by Kharif 2018.

"As imported technology has failed and farmers have suffered a lot this year, it is required to develop an alternate hybrid technology at the home. NBRI has developed an indigenous cotton seed and now we are waiting for approval from Government. Multiple availabilities will reduce the price and this will benefit farmers too," said M Prabhakar Rao, chairman of NSL Group and part of SBBPL.

The seeds industry is confident of commercialising these technologies soon and supply to the farmer's high quality BT cotton seeds at affordable prices. So far, Indian companies have not been able to commercialize the same. "Once the new technology approved, it will be provide to other Indian companies for sale. This should encourage them to further develop and commercialize their own technology in future," said M Prabhakar Rao.

The current technology is sub-licensed to 49 seed manufacturers which accounts for the entire hybrid cotton seed companies in India. In the absence of competing technology and competing technology developers, seed companies have no option but to use it.

Kalyan Goswami, executive director of National Seed Association of India (NSAI) said, "Some companies have already developed technologies, which at the laboratory level, are appearing to be very effective for controlling the Pink Bollworm (PBW). The industry is confident to commercialise these technologies soon and supply to the farmer's high quality Bt. cotton seeds at affordable prices."

According to seeds industry officials, with this move, Indian companies would be driven towards innovation for bringing the best of products to the farmers. "With new measures in place, Indian organizations would be encouraged to take up more R&D activities. Also the Indian companies would be driven towards innovation for bringing the best of products to the farmers," Goswami said.