The Hindu Business Line : Awareness meet on GM crops in Salem

A joint awareness meet on genetically modified crops was held on Monday for the farmers in Salem by three institutions connected with agriculture with a view to enlightening the farming community.

The meet was organised in the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Sandhiyur and was focused on the yield performance and the regulatory framework available in the country for genetically modified crops with particular reference to Bt cotton.

The meet was jointly organised by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), All India Crop Biotechnology Association (AICBA) and the Biotech Consortium, according to a press note from theAICBA.

Pesticides

Dr P. Balasubramanian, Director, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, TNAU, said that Bt cotton had led to increased yield and reduced dependence on pesticides.

The gene used in Bt cotton sourced from soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sub-species kurstaki produces a protein toxic to bollworm, thus providing resistance to plants and significantly reducing the need for chemical insecticides.

As opposed to chemical pesticides, Bt cotton also provides continuous protection against pestslike bollworm.

The farmers were informed that the first approval for Bt cotton cultivation in India was granted in 2002 and in the last four years, 20 Bt cotton hybrids had been commercialised with a crop area coverage of 1.3 million hectares.

It has also resulted in a five-fold reduction in insecticides usage and 58 per cent increase in yield.

More Stories on : Events | Bio-tech & Genetics | Tamil Nadu

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page