Two things happened on March 26, 2002, when the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (geac) cleared the commercial cultivation of Bt cotton. Firstly, the event ushered in the era of gm (genetically modified) crops in India. Secondly, it sparked off a nationwide debate.

Cotton seeds are modified genetically to contain a common bacterium, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), that is potent enough to resist one of the most dreaded pests of cotton: the bollworm (see Down To Earth, Vol 10, No 14, December 15, 2001). According to Union government estimates, gm cotton seeds are expected to yield Rs 10,000 per hectare (ha) more than traditional varieties. The fact that India is the largest grower of cotton underscores the relevance of this amount. Consequently, the mood is upbeat in geac