The government recently informed that there has been a considerable rise in the country's total Bt cotton cultivation acreage from 0.29 lakh hectares eight years back to 80 lakh hectares now.
Environment Minister – Jairam Ramesh informed the Parliament that, the government has permitted commercial cultivation of Bt cotton in the country during the kharif season of 2002, which has lead to a considerable rise in the crop production in all the cotton cultivating states, thereafter.
Moreover, it has also greatly reduced the threat of bollworm in cotton across the country, due to which there has been a fall in the market share of pesticides used to protect cotton crop.
The Minister, while speaking on the introduction of other GM crops, said that presently the Government is assessing the pros and cons of each and every crop one by one, regardless of the fact that other countries have approved the same for cultivation.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India