Concerns over the pink bollworm, a pest that feeds on cotton, having developed resistance to Monsanto’s genetically modified ‘Bollgard’ cotton is also good news for other companies developing hybrids.
Monsanto has started the process of developing a hybrid but says this will take some time before it is introduced. The area in the country under Bt (genetically modified) cotton is anticipated to be around eight million hectares in 2009-10, with an average yield of 560 kg per hectare in 2007-08.
“Biotech-enhanced, insect-resistant Bollgard III is a three-gene Bt cotton technology which will provide the cotton crop added protection from a broad spectrum of bollworm complex and spodoptera. Currently, we have started the breeding programme to prepare hybrids containing the Bollgard III trait, which is expected to take two years for completion, following which the regulatory process starts almost simultaneously and takes around five-six years for approval in India,” Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech told Business Standard.
Monsanto had already released Bollgard II, a seed of superior technology, to deal with the problem of the pink bollworm pest. Though a bag of Bollgard II seeds costs Rs 100 more, Monsanto said it offers value to farmers, with the control of key pests like helicoverpa and the spotted bollworm. Overall, approximately 80 per cent of all Indian cotton farmers are expected to plant Bollgard II products in the 2010 season.
Meanwhile, other companies who develop cotton hybrids are eyeing greater market share from this development. For instance, Nath Biogene seeds enjoy 10-12 per cent market share in Bt cotton but expects to increase this to nearly 20 per cent. “Though we started late and got the approvals late, we have given licences to eight companies to use our hybrids and hence, our market share is near 12 per cent. We expect it to go up,” said Satish Kagliwal, managing director.
The company’s Fusion hybrid gene is a combination of two genes and has already been cleared by the government, besides getting the regulatory approvals. “It has been in the Indian market for almost three years and in China for more than 10 years and pests have not developed any resistance to it,” added Kagliwal.
There are several companies working on newer genes or a combination of those like Metahelix, that have yet to introduce their variety of hybrid cotton in the market but plan to do so soon. “We are mulling on the strategy to enter the market from May onwards, as the season starts then. We are eyeing a decent market share of slightly less than five per cent as we enter,” said K K Narayanan, managing director, Metahelix Life Sciences.
The company has approval for its single gene product, as well as a stacked gene of genetically modified cotton. “Monsanto had the headstart and the first mover advantage but ours is a different gene. Also, the performance of the hybrid carrying a particular gene is different. We are thinking whether to launch the first generation hybrid or jump on to the second generation one directly,” added Narayanan.
