National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIGBE), Faisalabad, has developed an insect-resistant cotton variety, which will reduce the national import bill of pesticides worth Rs 15 billion to half.
According to a press release of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) issued here on Tuesday the Nigbe has submitted a proposal to the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) for approval of this cottonseed variety. NBC was recently notified by the ministry of environment.
The Nigbe, an agricultural research organ of the PAEC, has been working on genetic engineering of cotton under the instructions of the federal government as well as on the advice of the Punjab government.
The newly-evolved insect-resistant cotton variety has been adapted from the approved commercial variety, IR-FH-901, which along with other three varieties were handed over to the Nigbe by provincial agricultural department, Punjab, in 1998.
According to the PAEC press release, legal and organised cultivation of IR varieties will eventually reduce the import bill of toxic pesticides of Rs 15 billion to half.
It will also result in a cleaner environment and less health damage to the farmers, farm labourers and livestock. This vital project was liberally funded by the agriculture ministry Punjab, UN bodies like FAO, CFC and International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), USA.
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