Seedy growth

Lack of regulation behind cultivation of unapproved Bt-cotton

Unrestrained cultivation of unapproved strains of genetically modified (GM) cotton in several states is a matter of grave concern. Surprisingly, this development has been ignored both by government agencies as well as environmental vigilantes. Going by market reckoning, more than 3.5 million packets of illegitimate seeds of GM cotton were sold in the current season alone. Indications are that such seeds had been in circulation last year and, perhaps, even earlier, but little was done to check their multiplication, trade or cultivation. Nearly one million cotton growers may already be using these seeds. The implications of unrestricted farming of such seeds are many and wide-ranging.

For one, it can potentially, even if not in all cases, be hazardous to health and ecology. Besides, if the unsolicited genes escape the host plants they can affect the innate genetic make-up of cultivated crops and wild flora. Should this happen, it can jeopardise the future of a potent gene-tailoring technology that can help overcome many of the emerging challenges for agriculture, pharmaceutical and several other biotechnology-dependent industrial sectors. However, the fact that farmers are buying these unapproved GM seeds at prices substantially higher than the government-fixed rates for Bt-cotton seeds manifests their craving for new technology that the government is denying them through misguided actions such as blocking new strains of Bt-brinjal and Bt-mustard.

Many local seed companies have reportedly been churning out GM cotton seeds by incorporating some of the new genetic traits evolved by Monsanto — one of the leading life sciences companies — or other seed researchers, without their consent. In most cases, the illegal seeds carry the new generation gene combination that lends weedicide tolerance in addition to protection against pests (such as bollworms, which is the hallmark of the transgenic Bt-cotton). These attributes allow farmers to control weed by spraying herbicides rather than going in for cost-intensive manual or mechanical means of removing unwanted plants. This matter has duly been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned, including the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), by Monsanto as well as the South Asia Biotech Centre, a non-profit scientific body, but without any avail. Only the Andhra Pradesh government has ordered an inspection of the fields growing unapproved GM cotton seeds. But this move has also come too late to allow any remedial action in this season.

The government needs to learn several lessons from this episode. A clear one among them is that farmers are looking for better seeds and cost-saving technologies for which the government should serve as a facilitator, not an inhibitor. The other, and the more important, one is that a competent, effective and autonomous biotechnology regulator is imperative to ensure smooth growth of the biotechnology sector. The Bill for setting up the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India, which has been pending for long despite having been whetted by several bodies, should be resurrected, suitably amended, if needed, and be approved by Parliament expeditiously. Otherwise, neither can the perils of unscrupulous use of biotechnology be staved off nor can the potential benefits of this technology be gainfully harnessed.