KARACHI, Oct 30: More than one million bales of cotton this season is being obtained from the sowing of genetically modified seeds either smuggled from India or trans-shipped from Australia as a mis-declared item via Dubai, Singapore or Hong
Kong.
Officially, the sowing of genetically modified seed in Pakistan is banned for which the government issues warning to the growers through electronic and print media well in advance at the time of plantation. But the use of these seeds, identified officially as bio-technological seeds (BT Seeds), is gradually becoming popular among the farmers because of its pest resistant quality and better yield in last few years.
Farmers in Sindh call BT seeds “Bhittai seed” and according to Syed Qamaruzzaman Shah, president Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), the seeds have been sown on about 0.1 million to 150,000 acres in the province.
President of Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) estimates cotton production from BT seeds this season anywhere “from 10 to 20 per cent of the total cotton production”.
With an indicated cotton output of 12 million bales plus this season, the BT seeds contribution comes to one million bales plus, the highest so far in the country in the face of federal agricultural ministry’s repeated warnings against the use of these seeds.
“The seed mafia and the pesticide mafia are against the official adoption of BT seeds in Pakistan,” a senior official in the federal textile ministry informed Dawn on Monday who disclosed that the textile ministry has “again urged the agriculture ministry to adopt the BT seed.”
Pakistan is a net importer of pesticides and one big importer hails from a powerful political business family of central Punjab that has interest in sugar, textiles, dairy farming and other areas.
The genetically modified seeds were first introduced in Pakistan about five years ago by an American multinational—Monsanto--that has registered its patent internationally. The company wants observation of international patent rules for marketing its seeds in Pakistan.
“Any agreement with Monsanto would have bound Pakistan with unbearable conditions,” is one argument offered by the bureaucrats in federal food and agricultural ministry. For example, there is a condition to import fresh seeds every year from the company rather than allowing the farmers to use seeds from the crop as is being done now.
“Why should not farmers use BT seeds if these are beneficial to them,” argued Qamaruzzaman Shah who said that this variety of seed had improved yields per acre and has been found pest resistant and moisture resistant.
He explained that some parts of lower Sindh were rendered unsuitable for cotton plantation after farmers switched over to bananas and sugarcane because of excessive use of water increased humidity in the environment. “Cotton needs dry weather and heat,” he said.
The BT seeds gave good results in an environment where humidity was relatively high and is, therefore, being used excessively. “Bags full of BT seeds are offered as gift by zamindars to each others,” the SCA chief replied when asked as what is the source of these seeds.
Zahid Bashir, however, wants all necessary safeguards for the use of BT seeds. He advocates a formal agreement with Monsanto or with any company that has produced these seeds. “Before sowing these seeds, these should be properly modified to suit our soil and our environment,” he stressed. The company should provide necessary training to technicians and farmers and also offer after-sales service as it is in case of every big deal.
Cotton traders and farmers blame bureaucrats’ fixations and frozen minds for delaying the official adoption of genetically modified seeds.
These seeds have been adopted in India where cotton output this season is being estimated at around 28 million bales--more than double that of Pakistan--where the Federal Committee on Agriculture has recently cut down crop estimate to 12.4 million bales from 13.8 million bales. China too has adopted these seeds and is now reaping benefits.With an expected 12.4 million bales production, the textile industry is all set to import about 2.5 million bales to 3 million bales in the coming months as there is a demand of about 15 million bales by the local industry after investment of about $5 billion in last five years. The government is exploring the possibility of cotton import from India via Wagah overland to cut down on freight and ensure swift delivery.
