Monsanto to test new variety of hybrid cotton

Monsanto, a US-based biotech firm, is planning to launch a new hybrid of cotton in the country. The company expects the new variety to be used for commercial cultivation by 2011.

The company, which already has two genetically-modified cotton, Bollgard I and Bollgard II, in the Indian market has got the approvals for field trials in southern parts of the country.

It is now planning to undertake trials on a wider area from next year. At a time when India is heading towards 400 lakh bales of cotton production in the next couple of years, the new hybrid cotton variety could be helpful to cotton farmers.

Despite having more than 95 lakh hectares under cultivation, India is witnessing low yields in major parts of the cotton-growing regions.