MULTAN (December 06 2008): Monsanto, (US agriculture company) which provided biotechnology in agriculture, is interested to introduce Bt cotton seeds in Pakistan and modern seed technologies to improve the yield of cotton crop in the country. But Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Minfal) is unable to finalise an agreement with Monsanto, providing biotechnology in agriculture, regarding the introduction of Bt cotton in the country.

Minfal sources said that Pakistan would extend its co-operation with "Monsanto" in biotechnology to increase agricultural productivity. He said this while chairing a meeting of steering committee on Bt cotton attended by the officials of Monsanto, which provided biotechnology in agriculture and were interested to introduce Bt cotton seeds in Pakistan and modern seed technologies to improve the yield of cotton crop in the country.

The minister said the present government was focusing on agriculture sector and the government was committed to strengthen economy through developing agriculture sector to which 70 percent of our population is attached. "We cannot increase the agricultural productivity without investing in seed research and improved seed technology and for this purpose companies like Monsanto were doing a wonderful job in transferring technology to underdeveloped countries," he said.

An official of the ministry told that the Monsanto demanded $21 per acre as royalty for which an agreement was not finalised yet. The other issue with the Monsanto was that the government wanted to bring a new model to Pakistan and that the Indian model was not beneficial. The government insisted on Boll Gard II technology of Bt cotton from Monsanto and the government is not ready to give any royalty fee to Monsanto over per acre cotton crop.

Monsanto directly marketed seeds for maize, sunflower and hybrid canola crops and the growers were purchasing it. He said that Monsanto had brought 20 varieties of Bt cotton but all these could not perform well in Pakistan. There was a dire need from the government to announce a National Biotech Policy, which would help in enhancing yields of crops particularly cotton, which is a cash crop of the country, he suggested.

He informed the meeting that cotton was one of the most important crops and there was a dire need to improve the quality and yield of cotton to strengthen agriculture as well as textile industry and exports. The meeting formed a sub-committee to finalise the modalities of investment by Monsanto in providing best cottonseed technology to Pakistan and to settle royalty issues.

Source: RECORDER REPORT