Commercialisation of new BT cotton varieties: administrative issues delay approval

The fate of eight new BT cotton verities sent to National Bio-safety Centre to get approval for commercialisation hangs in balance due to administrative controversy, sources revealed to Business Recorder. Sources revealed that eight BT cotton verities were sent to National Bio-safety Centre for commercialisation for the next season (2012-13) to boost cotton production in the country, however due to administrative issues, the approval has been delayed.
Pakistan opted for BT cotton cultivation and registered nine BT varieties last year and approved eight more this year, but the new varieties have to be cleared from the National Bio-safety Centre-the apex body that grants approval for testing and commercialisation of genetically modified crops/organisms. The eight BT cotton verities include SH-114, MNH-86, CIM-589, Sitara-009 - developed by the private sector - and A-1, IR-3, Tarzan and NS-141 developed by the public sector.
According to the sources, Secretary Environment Ministry was the chairman of the National Bio-safety Centre committee, however the Ministry has been devolved and the National Disaster Management Ministry has undertaken the responsibilities. Changes in regulations were required to enable the Secretary of the new Ministry to run the affairs, sources maintained.
Out of these 17 BT varieties, one is the first registered hybrid of Indian origin, whereas rest were developed by public and private sector research organisations with first generation BT gene generally known as "Bollgaurd-I" or "Mon-531", sources maintained.
The Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, now under the administrative control of National Food Security and Research Division, and the Seed Regulatory Authority has registered more than 700 seed companies in the country, whereas India with almost three times area under cotton cultivation has only 220 seed companies. Pakistan cotton seed requirement is nearly about 40,000 metric tons with 4-5kg seed rate per acre. Private sector failed to fulfil the seed requirement of the country over the years, offering low quality seed at higher prices, sources maintained.