One variety, one brand: Govt’s new norm for Bt Cotton seeds
Hitavada: May 28, 2018
In a bid to tighten the vigil over Bt Cotton varieties being sold in the market under different brand names, Maharashtra Government has made it mandatory for original seed producer companies and co-marketing companies to sell one variety of Bt Cotton seeds with one brand name only. After a review, the Government has allowed only 370 varieties of 42 companies to be sold in the State in Kharif-2018 season.
The widespread attack of Pink Bollworm on Cotton crop in Kharif-2017 had affected the production. The issue had got wider attention after 63 farmers/farm-workers died due to poisoning during pesticide spraying as a measure to counter Pink Bollworm attack. When the Government machinery swung into action, it came to know that even the Bt Cotton seeds of varieties un-approved by Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) were being sold in the market. Further, there were instances in which one variety of Bt Cotton seeds was being sold using different brand names. The latest move by the Government to allow ‘one variety, one brand’ from Kharif-2018 season is a fallout of what had happened last year in cotton belt of the State, most of which is in Vidarbha region.
As much as 98 per cent of cotton area in Maharashtra is under Bt Cotton varieties. These Bt Cotton varieties are approved by GEAC. The seeds of only these approved varieties are allowed to be sold in Maharashtra. Till last year, apart from the original producer company, the co-marketing companies also used to sell these approved varieties of Bt Cotton seeds.
However, the Government noticed that these co-marketing companies used to sell these seeds under various brand names. For, last year, 402 approved varieties were sold with 624 brand names!
This had created confusion among farmers. Hence, now, the State Government has decided that the Bt Cotton seeds shall be sold using the name approved by GEAC, from Kharif-2018 season.
The original producer company of seeds should print in bold letters the GEAC-approved name of a variety on its packet. The original producer company can print its own brand name also. However, for one variety, there should be only one brand name. The co-marketing companies also should use the packing and label used by the original producer company. As such, henceforth, each variety will be sold with only one brand name.
Further, from this year onwards, Agriculture Universities have recommended varieties having short to medium duration for harvesting, that is, 180 days since sowing. Therefore, the varieties with growth period of more than 180 days have not been allowed to be sold in the State from this year onwards.
Considering these factors, the Government has allowed only 370 varieties of 42 companies to be sold in the State during Kharif-2018 season. The list of these companies and varieties has been made available on State Agriculture Department’s website as well as at the offices of Taluka Agriculture Officer and Panchayat Samiti concerned. The officials of Agriculture Department have appealed to the farmers to inform the nearest Panchayat Samiti or Taluka Agriculture Officer if varieties of Bt Cotton seeds other than those in the list are being sold.
Link: http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2018/5/28/One-variety,-one-brand--Govt-s-new-norm-for-Bt-Cotton-seeds.aspx
In a bid to tighten the vigil over Bt Cotton varieties being sold in the market under different brand names, Maharashtra Government has made it mandatory for original seed producer companies and co-marketing companies to sell one variety of Bt Cotton seeds with one brand name only. After a review, the Government has allowed only 370 varieties of 42 companies to be sold in the State in Kharif-2018 season.
The widespread attack of Pink Bollworm on Cotton crop in Kharif-2017 had affected the production. The issue had got wider attention after 63 farmers/farm-workers died due to poisoning during pesticide spraying as a measure to counter Pink Bollworm attack. When the Government machinery swung into action, it came to know that even the Bt Cotton seeds of varieties un-approved by Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) were being sold in the market. Further, there were instances in which one variety of Bt Cotton seeds was being sold using different brand names. The latest move by the Government to allow ‘one variety, one brand’ from Kharif-2018 season is a fallout of what had happened last year in cotton belt of the State, most of which is in Vidarbha region.
As much as 98 per cent of cotton area in Maharashtra is under Bt Cotton varieties. These Bt Cotton varieties are approved by GEAC. The seeds of only these approved varieties are allowed to be sold in Maharashtra. Till last year, apart from the original producer company, the co-marketing companies also used to sell these approved varieties of Bt Cotton seeds.
However, the Government noticed that these co-marketing companies used to sell these seeds under various brand names. For, last year, 402 approved varieties were sold with 624 brand names!
This had created confusion among farmers. Hence, now, the State Government has decided that the Bt Cotton seeds shall be sold using the name approved by GEAC, from Kharif-2018 season.
The original producer company of seeds should print in bold letters the GEAC-approved name of a variety on its packet. The original producer company can print its own brand name also. However, for one variety, there should be only one brand name. The co-marketing companies also should use the packing and label used by the original producer company. As such, henceforth, each variety will be sold with only one brand name.
Further, from this year onwards, Agriculture Universities have recommended varieties having short to medium duration for harvesting, that is, 180 days since sowing. Therefore, the varieties with growth period of more than 180 days have not been allowed to be sold in the State from this year onwards.
Considering these factors, the Government has allowed only 370 varieties of 42 companies to be sold in the State during Kharif-2018 season. The list of these companies and varieties has been made available on State Agriculture Department’s website as well as at the offices of Taluka Agriculture Officer and Panchayat Samiti concerned. The officials of Agriculture Department have appealed to the farmers to inform the nearest Panchayat Samiti or Taluka Agriculture Officer if varieties of Bt Cotton seeds other than those in the list are being sold.
Link: http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2018/5/28/One-variety,-one-brand--Govt-s-new-norm-for-Bt-Cotton-seeds.aspx
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