Lahore, Pakistan
March 23, 2009
Source:
Pakistan Biotechnology
Information Center (PABIC)
Over 60 per cent of bacillus
thuringiensis (BT) cotton sown in Pakistan last year was
counterfeit, claims the AgriForum Pakistan “That was why the
country missed the production target by almost 2.5 million
bales,” the forum believes.
With sowing already on in noncore areas this year, it
apprehended the situation might even be worse as the BT cotton
might cover up to 70 per cent area, hurting the farmers and the
farming even badly. “The seed mafia, in connivance with the
officials of the agriculture department, is ruling the roost,”
it said.
The BT cotton seed is being sold to farmers by seed companies
with a production claim of up to 40 maunds per acre against
existing average of around 15 maunds. All these claims are
falling flat, but no official action is being taken against the
culprits, it claimed in a meeting on sowing of cotton.
“The illiterate farmers are being made to believe that their
production would be more than double but spurious seed yields
even less than traditional varieties in Pakistan,” says Ibrahim
Mughal of the forum.
He said the most glaring proof of counterfeit seed being sold in
the name of BT cotton came last year when national production
went down by almost 2.5 million bales despite 60 per cent area
being under the bacillus thuringiensis.
Rao Afsar Khan of Rajanpur claims that the seed is being sold at
Rs700 per kilogram in certain parts of the province but with no
guarantee of projected yield. “The farmers are not in a position
to ascertain the health of the seed. Only the government
departments can do the job, but, unfortunately, they have joined
hands with seed mafia rather than protecting the farmers. No one
really knows, at least not the farmers, that who is selling what
and on what basis,” he said and added: “The government
departments must devise a mechanism to deal with the problem,
which is fast turning into a crisis.” Rana Majid Zafar, a cotton
farmer, said if the cotton seed crisis was not solved, it would
not only affect the textile industry but also increase edible
oil import.
This year, he said, more area was expected to come under the
crop as the government was trying to take cotton to non-core
areas as well. “But if 70 per cent of it comes under counterfeit
seed, one can imagine the results.” He said Pakistan achieved a
yield of 14.3 million bales in 2005-06 when 95 per cent of the
area was under traditional varieties. Last year, the yield
remained under 12 million bales against total target of 14.3
million bales. “The only culprit is counterfeit seed of BT
cotton and the government must move on this front to save the
crop,” he demanded. |
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