India
May 25, 2005
Source:
International Service for the
Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA)
Global Knowledge Center on
Crop Biotechnology
ISAAA: Fact sheet on Approved Bt Cotton Hybrids
in India
Original
document in PDF format:
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*Mech 162 and Mech 184 not
approved for AP and Mech 12 discontinued for Southern Zone
- All approved
hybrids belong to four major seed companies from India i.e.
Mahyco (MECH, MRC), Rasi (RCH), Ankur seed and Nuziveedu
seed (NSC) companies in India.
- In 2002,
Maharashtra Hybrids Seeds Co Ltd (Mahyco) has received
approval for three Bt cotton hybrids such as MECH 12, MECH
162 and MECH 184 for commercial cultivation in Central &
Southern Zones in India.
- In 2003,
three Bt cotton hybrids were cultivated over 100,000ha which
is more than three times area under Bt cotton cultivation in
2002 i.e. 30,000ha.
- In 2004, The
GEAC (Ministry of Environment & Forest) has approved one
more Bt cotton hybrid of Rasi Seeds for cultivation in
Central and Southern Zones. With four Bt cotton hybrids in
market, area under Bt cotton rose from 100,000 ha in 2003 to
500,000 ha in 2004, a quantum five-fold increase in Bt
cotton area between 2003 and 2004.
- In 2004,
more than 300,000 small and medium farmers in Central and
Southern Zones enjoyed the benefits of Bt cotton technology
with increased yield, reduced pesticides applications and
health and environmental benefits.
- In 2005,
farmers in India would have more choices to grow Bt cotton
hybrids such as 6 hybrids in Northern Zone, 12 hybrids in
Central Zone and 9 hybrids in Southern Zone respectively.
For further information, you may
contact:
Bhagirath Choudhary
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech
Applications (ISAAA)
Ist Floor, CG Block, NASC Complex
Dev Prakash Shastri Marg
New Delhi-110012, INDIA
Tel/Fax: 011-25841294
Mobile: +91-9891395710
Email:
b.choudhary@isaaa.org |