Source: Financial Express via USDA/FAS GAIN report IN6052

Metahelix Life Sciences, a Bangalore-based company, is expected to develop a Bt cotton strain by 2007-08. The company’s multi-locational field trails began this season.

The company plans to price this strain 30 to 40 percent less than the prevalent prices for Bt cotton seeds. The Managing Director of the company also claims that its variety will have a broad-spectrum pest resistance that varieties currently in the market do not have.

The central government has eased the regulatory procedure for commercial production of Bt cotton due to prevalence of spurious seed sales in the market.

Source: Financial Express, 06/27/06