Bt cotton acreage increases 63%

Genetically modified Bt Cotton acreage in the country rose 63 per cent to 6.2 million hectares in 2007, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications said in its latest global report. India's total cotton acreage stood at 9.4 million hectares in 2007.

"India's Bt cotton story is remarkable," ISAAA head Clive James said in a release. The global agency is engaged in the promotion of biotech crops.

For the third consecutive year, the country experienced the highest rise in Bt cotton acreage in the world.

India had approved commercial cultivation of genetically modified cotton in 2002.

Globally, the area under biotech crops rose 12 per cent in 2007 to 114.3 million hectare, the report said. Acreage under Bt cotton has also gone up by 12 per cent to 15 million.

India is the fifth largest biotech crop producer globally, one slot ahead of China, the report said. The US, Agrentina, Brazil and Canada occupied the top four slots.

Maharashtra (2.8 million hectare) and Andhra Pradesh (1.19 million hectare) continued to lead in adoption of Bt cotton. Gujarat was on the third spot slot with 818,000 hectare in 2007.

Among biotech crops, India has so far approved commercial cultivation of only Bt cotton. Brinjal and mustard are now awaiting approval from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, the country's biotech crop regulator.

The major genetically modified crops that are commercially cultivated across the world include soybean, maize, cotton, canola, squash, papaya and alfalfa.

Use of genetically modified seeds enhances yield and cuts the cost of production by minimising use of pesticides.