Demanding that steps be taken to increase the country’s cotton production, Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) on Wednesday said field trials on genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties should be given a go ahead. Speaking on the sidelines of the annual general body meeting, newly elected president of SIMA T Rajkumar said that 700 lakh bales of cotton by 2020 can be achieved only if GM cotton varieties are included. “The current cotton production that is around 480 kg per hectare could be increased even up to 950 kg if GM cotton varieties are used,” he said.
Presently, there is a moratorium on field trials on genetically modified (GM) crops after the Supreme Court-appointed Technical Expert Committee recommended it.
Read the full, original story here: “Push for field trials on GM cotton varieties”
