Farmers again turn to illegal herbicide tolerant cotton seeds
2
3
Nagpur: As sowing season nears, once again illegal herbicide-tolerant (HT) cotton seeds are available in the market. HT seeds, which are genetically designed to be resistant to
glyphosate-based weed killers
, have not been granted permission for commercial use by the Centre.
This is because Mahyco-Monsanto combine, which mooted the technology, abandoned trials midway over a decade ago. Since the trials were not completed, permission was not granted by environment ministry.
However, illegal multiplication of the seeds continued, and supply began in Vidarbha and other cotton growing areas of the country. Farmers, whom TOI spoke, said on the condition of anonymity, they are keen to buy the seeds which are easily available in the market.
This is because it substantially reduces the cost incurred on account of manual de-weeding. They can simply spray glyphosate-based weed killer and get rid of the weeds.
Farmers said earlier many ended up with spurious seeds in the name of
HT cotton
. However, even grey market operators have begun improving the quality. The seeds are mainly smuggled from Gujarat and Telangana.
Shetkari Sanghatana
, a farmer union, has been raising the demand to legalise cultivation of HT cotton. The Sanghatana workers have, from time to time, held protests by openly sowing HT seeds, challenging the govt to take action against them.
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