The Commerce Ministry has provided its Pakistani counterpart a list of Bt cotton seed producing agencies in India. The move to promote export of Bt cotton seeds to Pakistan comes at a time when India itself is reportedly facing a “shortage” of such seeds.

This new initiative was identified at the India-Pakistan talks in April in Islamabad. It aims to help Pakistan's farmers and its textile sector by increasing cotton yields and ensuring better cotton security. Both sides had agreed to enable Business-to-Business contact and governmental regulatory clearances.

The Commerce Ministry sources told Business Line that the idea stemmed from a firm named Nath Biogene, which informed the Ministry that it had worked on Indian and Pakistani soils, did research and developed a Bt cotton variety. The firm had even given a presentation about this in Pakistan. The idea received acceptance as the firm proved that its Bt cotton variety could survive in Pakistani soil.

Enthused by this, the Commerce Ministry sought from the Agriculture Ministry a list of Bt cotton seed producing agencies in India. The Agriculture Ministry then forwarded a list of 32 agencies, including all the leading Bt cotton seed producers such as Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nuziveedu Seeds, Rasi Seeds and Nath Biogene.

The sources said the move is part of the Prime Minister's initiative to ensure prosperity in neighbouring countries even if India Inc does not gain much directly. Incidentally, India and Pakistan compete internationally in the cotton and textile space.

On the “shortage” of Bt cotton seeds in India, the Commerce Ministry officials said they do not have any such information from the local seeds firms. Even during meetings leading to the India-Pakistan talks, no representation was forwarded on such a “shortage,” they said.

> arun.s@thehindu.co.in

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