Rasi Seeds gets `nod' to grow Bt cotton

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) today permitted the Tamil Nadu-based Rasi Seeds Ltd. to grow on a large-scale trial basis the RCH-2 variety of Bt cotton in the southern and central zones, thereby paving the way for the second competitor in the field after Mahyco, who are growing this genetically-modified variety in Gujarat.

Rasi Seeds has been allowed to grow the Bt cotton in one lakh acres and the approval for its commercial growth would be subject to trial results, which would be conducted under the Indian Council for Agricultural Research system.

Even as the committee, on the one hand, allowed the trial production of transgenic cotton hybrid seeds, it expressed serious concern over reports that Bt cotton was being converted into a cottage industry in Gujarat and seeds were being sold illegally.

In this connection, the chairperson of the committee, V.K. Duggal, has already written to the Gujarat Government, through its Chief Secretary, to express his concern.

The committee will look into violations of various laws, and suggest action against the 10 suspected seed companies that are producing and selling Bt cotton seeds illegally.

While representatives of several institutions insisted that the seed variety being produced and sold was certainly the same as that produced by Mahyco, the committee was of the opinion that some more tests should be conducted before reaching any conclusion and action suggested.

Another important decision taken by the GEAC was to set up a sub-group — to be chaired by a joint secretary — to allow greater transparency in the decision taken at the meetings.

To achieve this, the proposals will be placed before the sub-group where the stakeholders will be allowed to express their views freely before the committee gives its final approval, keeping in mind the interest of the end-users.

Another sub-committee was also constituted by the committee to suggest means to make the trial and testing mechanism stronger.

The sub-committee has been asked to submit its report in a month.

Commenting on the reports of the possibility of allowing the commercial growth of genetically-modified variety of potatoes in India, the committee said no such proposal had been placed before it for approval.

In fact, Mr. Duggal expressed his unhappiness for `premature' pronouncements.

The GEAC was informed that the genetically-modified varieties of potatoes were being grown at Modipuram and Shimla by the Central Potatoes Research Institute and the results would be placed before the committee as and when they come.

Source by The Hindu dt. 14-06-2002