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AS THE PLANTING time fast approaches, transgenic cottonseeds are once again in the news, not for the right reasons though, courtesy the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee. By granting permission selectively to certain varieties for certain States and by excluding Andhra Pradesh for specified seeds, the GEAC may feel smug that it has taken a practical decision; but it may willy-nilly have committed a faux pas. So, it should surprise none if the Government finds itself in the eye of a storm for creating artificial differences among regions for planting Bt cottonseed varieties. It also calls into question the earlier decision to permit commercialisation of the three cottonseed varieties of Monsanto-Mahyco in the whole of South India. There are genuine fears that the latest decision will help perpetrate undesirable commercial practices. The Tuesday decision has implications not only for cotton growers but also for seed companies.

From the start, the GEAC's decisions on Bt cottonseed hybrids have remained shrouded in mystery. This time the State government's report on the performance of the seeds in Andhra Pradesh seems to have prompted the GEAC to exclude the State for specified varieties; there is no reason why the performance report should not be made public. With such selective clearance, the situation is fraught with serious consequences. Given the wholly inadequate or poor regulatory oversight of transgenic crops, how will the GEAC prevent smuggling of Bt cotton hybrids into prohibited areas? Farmers have reportedly made large-scale advance booking of Bt cottonseed and are sure to feel cheated if not allowed to access the seed they want to plant. A far worse possibility is the sale of spurious or misbranded seeds. Illegal sale of non-Bt varieties as Bt cottonseed in unapproved regions is a real possibility if the experience of previous seasons is anything to go by. Witness the Gujarat experience of 2002 season — large scale unauthorised cultivation of Bt cottonseed. It is unclear what lessons the Centre learnt or what action it took against the offenders two seasons ago. How the Centre and the State governments will address ground-level issues such as ensuring sale of genuine seeds in the coming season remains to be seen. Admittedly, the GEAC is doing a thankless job given the involvement of conflicting interests and the lobbies at work. But that should not detract from the imperative of transparency in decision-making.

While on cotton, the emergence of a commercially more important prospect should not be lost sight of. There are clear indications that the international market conditions for cotton are likely to turn favourable for major producers next season. World cotton exports are likely to expand some 15 per cent to 8 million tonnes, opening an attractive window of opportunity for India. The need of the hour is to generate genuine export surplus this season by ensuring harvest of a large crop — in excess of, say, 200 lakh bales. With forward prices firming up in the export market, cotton growers can hope to realise remunerative prices during season beginning September. The Agriculture Ministry, through the Technology Mission on Cotton, should seize the opportunity.

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