India
September 23, 2008
Source:
Business Standard
via
USDA/FAS GAIN report IN 8111
Indian farmers seem to have taken
to Bt cotton seeds in a big way. According to technology
supplier Mahyco Monsanto
Biotech (MMB), India, Indian farmers have brought 20 percent
more area under cotton cultivation in 2008.
This is likely to shoot up cotton production in the country,
which is already the second largest producer of cotton in the
world.
As per an estimate by MMB, approximately four million farmers
cultivated Bollgard II and Bollgard Bt cotton on 17.2 million
acres equivalent to 76 percent of India’s total 22.5 million
cotton acres in Kharif 2008.
The acreage has steadily increased from 8.7 million acres in
2006 to 14.4 million acres in 2007.
The farmers have a choice from over 150 Bollgard II and Bollgard
Bt cotton hybrid seeds.
“Within six years of the launch of Bollgard Bt Cotton in 2002,
India’s cotton production has doubled, making it the second
largest producer, and second largest exporter of cotton in the
world,” said Raj Ketkar Deputy Managing Director, MMB. |
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