Agreement on Bt Cotton will spell disaster – LCCI

03 Nov '10

5 min read

varieties so there is no scientific way of gauging how would local varieties perform. Indian cotton area and production has increased but we have to understand its factors that in India Bollworms are a big issue of cotton crop and Bt technology is effective against it. In Pakistan instead of Bollworms, CLCuV is major issue and Bt technology has no control over it.

The LCCI President said that Indian example is not relevant as India is 75% non-irrigated cotton while Pakistan grows cotton on irrigated land and depends on hybrid seeds and their yields are lower than current Pakistani varieties even after Bt cotton technology introduction in India. The LCCI President suggested that way forward is that Seed Act Amendment & Plant Breeders Rights should be approved by the Parliament so that IPRs (intellectual property rights) are protected and investors both local and multinationals get confidence. This year eight local Bt cotton varieties (BG I) and one hybrid containing Chinese fusion gene were approved by Punjab government and agreement with Monsanto will destroy local seed companies selling the Bt Cotton seed.

The agreement should be signed after approval of Provincial or National Assembly because royalty payment is a controversial issue and should not be agreed without approval of public representatives. Pakistan's position is strong to negotiate with Monsanto as it already has entered into cotton growing countries and Pakistan is the only market left. It is quite understandable that the American company was in a hurry to get the things done because the Bt Cotton variety containing Chinese fusion gene as mentioned above has already been approved by the Government of Punjab and is poised to be commercialized next year.

It is pertinent to mention here that on MAY 26, 2008, Monsanto wrote a letter to Punjab Government accepting that it has no Patent for Bollagrd I in Pakistan which is CRY1AC single gene and so no claims for royalty. Now it is trying to get compensation for Bollgard-II seed technology despite the fact that its performance in field trials under Pakistan's conditions have yet to be proved.

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry

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