Science / Agriculture

The unlawful cultivation of herbicide tolerant (HT) Bt cotton has seen a large jump this year, with seed makers claiming that the sale of unlawful seed packets has over doubled from thirty lakh last year to seventy five lakh this year.

·        Bt cotton remains the sole GM crop allowed to be cultivated within the country.

·        It was developed by United States giant Bayer-Monsanto.

·        It involves insertion of 2 genes viz ‘Cry1Ab’ and ‘Cry2Bc’ from the soil bacteria bacillus thuringiensis into cotton seeds.

·        This modification codes the plant to provide protein toxic to heliothis bollworm (pink bollworm) therefore creating it resistant to their attack.

·        The industrial release of this hybrid was sanctioned by the govt. in 2002.

About HT Bt Cotton

·        The farmers planted an herbicide-tolerant kind of Bt cotton.

·        This variety (HtBt) involves the addition of another gene, ‘Cp4-Epsps’ from another soil bacteria, agrobacterium tumefaciens.

·        It isnt cleared by GEAC.

·        The farmers claim that the HtBt variety will withstand the spray of glyphosate, an herbicide thats wont to take away weeds, and therefore it well saves them deweeding prices.

What is the procedure involved?

·        In India, its the responsibility of the genetic engineering Appraisal Committee(GEAC) under the atmosphere Ministry to assess the security of a genetically changed plant, and decide whether its fit for cultivation.

·        The GEAC comprises specialists and government representatives, and a choice it takes needs to be approved by the atmosphere Minister before any crop is allowed for cultivation.

·        Besides Bt cotton, the GEAC has cleared 2 alternative genetically changed crops,brinjal and mustard.

·        But these havent received the consent of the atmosphere Minister.

·        Legally, sale, storage, transportation and usage of unapproved GM seeds may be a punishable offence below the principles of Environmental Protection Act 1986.

·        Also, sale of unapproved seeds will attract action under the Seed Act of 1966 and therefore the Cotton Act of 1957.

·        The Environmental Protection Act provides for a jail term of 5 years and a fine of Rs one lakh for violation of its provisions, and cases will be filed under the other 2 Acts.

·        The culprit may be charged under varied sections of the Essential

·        Commodities Act and therefore the Indian penal code.