The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Biotech crops only solution to increase productivity”

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Friday, Sep 26, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Biotech crops only solution to increase productivity”

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: “There is an urgent and pertinent need to increase the crop productivity to meet the increasing demand for food, and this will be possible only through biotech crops,” K.C. Bansal of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute said on Wednesday.

Addressing reporters here, Prof. Bansal said recognising the importance of genetically modified crops, the ICAR, State agricultural universities and other agricultural institutions were increasingly investing in research in these crops. Field trials were being conducted for various crops, including rice, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage and chickpea, and they were all in advanced stages of approval.

Bt cotton had become popular among farmers. Within six years of the launch of Bolgard Bt cotton, farmers increased their productivity. Now the cotton production had doubled, making India the second largest producer and exporter. Environmentally, Bt cotton required less pesticide.

The rapid increase in the number of farmers going in for Bt cotton was a testament to their faith and trust in the technology. In all probability, Bt brinjal would hit the market in 2009.

This would help the farmers reduce the use of pesticides to a great extent, thus making the vegetable safe for consumption.

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