Mr Narendrabhai N. Limbasaya of Kotada Nayan village in Gujarat's Rajkot district has been growing cotton on 15 acres of land he owns for the last 7-8 years.
With Pakistan all set to allow commercial cultivation of Bt cotton, Indian seeds firms are planning to cash in on the growing demand for genetically-tweaked item for its field-trial purpose there.
In the last six months alone, at least three Indian firms have got nod from the country's bio-tech regulator, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) to export the Bt cotton seed to conduct mul
Characterizing the spatial patterns of gene flow from transgenic crops is challenging, making it difficult to design containment strategies for markets that regulate the adventitious presence of transgenes. Insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton is planted on millions of hectares annually and is a potential source of transgene flow.
Rajasthan signs agreements with seven biotech companies to restructure agriculture. Read this special report on the fundamental shift in the way farming operates in India by giving private companies access to the state’s research facilities to test and market their hybrid seeds and other technologies.
Bt Cotton (insect-resistant transgenic cotton) is often portrayed as that technological revolution in Indian cotton cultivation which has changed the cotton scenario in India and pushed it to higher yields to make India the second largest producer of Cotton in the world.
Amidst the challenges in agriculture, India's Bt cotton success story stands out even in the controversy over Bt and GM crops.
Take the case of Mr. Gurtej Singh, from Ghragna, Punjab. The farmer constructed a new home costing Rs. 20 lakh, purchased one acre (he already owns 16 acres), invested in an education policy for his son and bought a new car.
Dilip Kumar Jha / Mumbai August 31, 2010, 0:04 IST
The evolution of Bt created additional value worth Rs 40,000 cr until 2008
Bt cotton has surpassed 90 per cent of cotton acreage this kharif season with farmers continuing to gain from the high-yielding seed since its commercialisation in 2002.
Over the last eight years, farmers have got better output through Bt cotton seeds compared to t
