|| Shree Mumba Devi Prasanna ||


AGMARKNET
29 Mar 2024
Wheat : 147 Average Max Price: 2750 Min Price: 2200   |   Wheat : Bansi Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 2586   |   Wheat : Dara Max Price: 2650 Min Price: 2127   |   Wheat : Kalyan Max Price: 3320 Min Price: 1625   |   Wheat : Lok-1 Max Price: 2300 Min Price: 2200   |   Wheat : Lokwan Max Price: 2550 Min Price: 2200   |   Wheat : Mill Quality Max Price: 2730 Min Price: 2000   |   Wheat : Sharbati Max Price: 3220 Min Price: 3220   |   Wheat : Deshi Max Price: 2000 Min Price: 2000   |   Wheat : Local Max Price: 2950 Min Price: 45   |   Wheat : Sonalika Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 2700   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Paddy Max Price: 3900 Min Price: 1900   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Ponni Max Price: 2461 Min Price: 2401   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : I.R. 36 Max Price: 2185 Min Price: 2185   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : I.R. 64 Max Price: 2203 Min Price: 2183   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : ADT 37 Max Price: 2540 Min Price: 2240   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : ADT 43 Max Price: 2000 Min Price: 1940   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : AST 16 Max Price: 2076 Min Price: 2016   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : 1001 Max Price: 4707 Min Price: 1780   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Puspa (MR 301) Max Price: 4272 Min Price: 1500   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Sona Max Price: 2692 Min Price: 2200   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Paddy fine Max Price: 2511 Min Price: 2511   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Paddy Medium Max Price: 2600 Min Price: 2600   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Paddy Coarse Max Price: 2513 Min Price: 1900   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : B P T Max Price: 2184 Min Price: 2181   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Samba Masuri Max Price: 2203 Min Price: 2203   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : MTU-1001 Max Price: 1965 Min Price: 1965   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : MTU-1010 Max Price: 2300 Min Price: 1980   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Swarna Masuri (New) Max Price: 2203 Min Price: 1970   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Sarvati Max Price: 2405 Min Price: 2250   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Common Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 1550   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Common) : Fine Max Price: 2450 Min Price: 2400   |   Rice : Coarse Max Price: 3850 Min Price: 2750   |   Rice : Fine Max Price: 4500 Min Price: 3500   |   Rice : Fine(Basmati) Max Price: 4500 Min Price: 4200   |   Rice : III Max Price: 3030 Min Price: 2800   |   Rice : Masuri Max Price: 4350 Min Price: 3300   |   Rice : Common Max Price: 3850 Min Price: 2700   |   Maize : Deshi Red Max Price: 2600 Min Price: 1770   |   Maize : Deshi White Max Price: 2250 Min Price: 2250   |   Maize : Hybrid/Local Max Price: 2100 Min Price: 1950   |   Maize : Local Max Price: 2350 Min Price: 1700   |   Maize : Yellow Max Price: 2240 Min Price: 1650   |   Maize : Hybrid Max Price: 2075 Min Price: 1800   |   Jowar(Sorghum) : Jowar ( White) Max Price: 3900 Min Price: 3900   |   Jowar(Sorghum) : Jowar (Yellow) Max Price: 2350 Min Price: 1700   |   Jowar(Sorghum) : Local Max Price: 2380 Min Price: 2000   |   Jowar(Sorghum) : Red Max Price: 4626 Min Price: 2700   |   Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) : Average (Whole) Max Price: 5750 Min Price: 5000   |   Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) : Desi (F.A.Q. Split) Max Price: 5305 Min Price: 4950   |   Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) : Desi (Whole) Max Price: 6650 Min Price: 6300   |   Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) : 999 Max Price: 5752 Min Price: 4850   |   Black Gram (Urd Beans)(Whole) : Black Gram (Whole) Max Price: 8800 Min Price: 5500   |   Green Gram (Moong)(Whole) : Green (Whole) Max Price: 9500 Min Price: 8800   |   Green Gram (Moong)(Whole) : Local Max Price: 8500 Min Price: 8000   |   Green Gram (Moong)(Whole) : Ankola Max Price: 7600 Min Price: 7500   |   Groundnut : Big (With Shell) Max Price: 5350 Min Price: 5350   |   Groundnut : Local Max Price: 5900 Min Price: 5700   |   Groundnut : G20 Max Price: 6350 Min Price: 5555   |   Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) : White Max Price: 16350 Min Price: 12250   |   Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) : Black Max Price: 16025 Min Price: 13750   |   Mustard : Laha(Sarsib) Max Price: 5600 Min Price: 5400   |   Mustard : Sarson(Black) Max Price: 5600 Min Price: 4000   |   Mustard : Yellow (Black) Max Price: 5630 Min Price: 5400   |   Mustard : Mustard Max Price: 5650 Min Price: 4600   |   Mustard : Big 100 Kg Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 4525   |   Soyabean : Yellow Max Price: 4597 Min Price: 4150   |   Soyabean : Soyabeen Max Price: 6500 Min Price: 3750   |   Cotton : Shanker 6 (B) 30mm FIne Max Price: 7630 Min Price: 5500   |   Cotton : Desi Max Price: 7795 Min Price: 6700   |   Cotton : American Max Price: 6800 Min Price: 5800   |   Cotton : Cotton (Unginned) Max Price: 7020 Min Price: 7020   |   Cotton : Bramha Max Price: 6920 Min Price: 6920   |   Jute : TD-5 Max Price: 5200 Min Price: 4940   |   Apple : American Max Price: 10000 Min Price: 7000   |   Apple : Delicious Max Price: 15000 Min Price: 7000   |   Apple : Kasmir/Shimla - II Max Price: 8350 Min Price: 4500   |   Apple : Kullu Royal Delicious Max Price: 10000 Min Price: 8000   |   Apple : Red Gold Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 4800   |   Apple : Apple Max Price: 16000 Min Price: 3000   |   Orange : Darjeeling Max Price: 4500 Min Price: 3500   |   Orange : Medium Max Price: 7500 Min Price: 6700   |   Orange : Nagpuri Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 2760   |   Orange : Orange Max Price: 10000 Min Price: 1400   |   Banana : Champa Max Price: 3100 Min Price: 2800   |   Banana : Medium Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 2000   |   Banana : Rasa Bale Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 2600   |   Banana : Nendra Bale Max Price: 7500 Min Price: 1400   |   Banana : Banana - Ripe Max Price: 7400 Min Price: 1200   |   Banana : Red Banana Max Price: 6000 Min Price: 1800   |   Banana : Poovan Max Price: 5400 Min Price: 1300   |   Banana : Robusta Max Price: 3500 Min Price: 1200   |   Banana : Palayamthodan Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 600   |   Banana : Amruthapani Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 2000   |   Mango : Safeda Max Price: 14000 Min Price: 5000   |   Mango : Dusheri Max Price: 8000 Min Price: 7500   |   Pineapple : Pine Apple Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 4000   |   Grapes : Annabesahai Max Price: 8000 Min Price: 3220   |   Grapes : Black Max Price: 8500 Min Price: 6000   |   Grapes : Green Max Price: 9000 Min Price: 2800   |   Grapes : White Max Price: 10000 Min Price: 8000   |   Grapes : Indian Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 4000   |   Onion : Nasik Max Price: 2700 Min Price: 1600   |   Onion : Red Max Price: 3205 Min Price: 800   |   Onion : Local Max Price: 1700 Min Price: 140   |   Onion : Onion Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 400   |   Onion : Big Max Price: 2700 Min Price: 1700   |   Onion : Medium Max Price: 2600 Min Price: 1000   |   Onion : Small Max Price: 4100 Min Price: 2200   |   Onion : 1st Sort Max Price: 2900 Min Price: 800   |   Potato : (Red Nanital) Max Price: 2700 Min Price: 700   |   Potato : Chandermukhi Max Price: 1500 Min Price: 1300   |   Potato : Desi Max Price: 2750 Min Price: 700   |   Potato : F.A.Q. Max Price: 800 Min Price: 500   |   Potato : Red Max Price: 2100 Min Price: 800   |   Potato : Jalander Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 1800   |   Potato : Jyoti Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 1300   |   Potato : Badshah Max Price: 1525 Min Price: 1325   |   Potato : Local Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 900   |   Potato : Potato Max Price: 3800 Min Price: 300   |   Potato : Chips Max Price: 3400 Min Price: 900   |   Garlic : Average Max Price: 15000 Min Price: 3524   |   Garlic : Desi Max Price: 11100 Min Price: 9845   |   Garlic : Garlic Max Price: 16000 Min Price: 3301   |   Garlic : China Max Price: 13300 Min Price: 13000   |   Ginger(Dry) : Vegitable-fresh Max Price: 17000 Min Price: 9200   |   Ginger(Dry) : Big/Thick Max Price: 12000 Min Price: 10000   |   Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) : Bold Max Price: 2350 Min Price: 2000   |   Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) : Deshi Max Price: 4995 Min Price: 2060   |   Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) : Hybrid Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 1900   |   Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) : Local Max Price: 2615 Min Price: 1975   |   Barley (Jau) : Dara Max Price: 2230 Min Price: 1700   |   Cauliflower : African Sarson Max Price: 7200 Min Price: 1200   |   Cauliflower : Local Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 1300   |   Cauliflower : Cauliflower Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 300   |   Brinjal : Round Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 700   |   Brinjal : Round/Long Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 450   |   Brinjal : Arkasheela Mattigulla Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 500   |   Brinjal : Brinjal Max Price: 5200 Min Price: 250   |   Cummin Seed(Jeera) : Cummin Seed(Jeera) Max Price: 23200 Min Price: 16500   |   Coriander(Leaves) : Coriander Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 300   |   Methi(Leaves) : Methi Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 600   |   Methi Seeds : Methiseeds Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 4805   |   Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) : 777 New Ind Max Price: 11015 Min Price: 9480   |   Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) : Desi(Whole) Max Price: 9500 Min Price: 8000   |   Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) : Hybrid Max Price: 11030 Min Price: 9525   |   Green Peas : Green Peas Max Price: 3600 Min Price: 3000   |   Lentil (Masur)(Whole) : Masur Dal Max Price: 10000 Min Price: 3500   |   Lentil (Masur)(Whole) : Kala Masoor New Max Price: 6970 Min Price: 5000   |   Lentil (Masur)(Whole) : Masoor Gola Max Price: 7050 Min Price: 6500   |   Field Pea : Field Pea Max Price: 5500 Min Price: 1400   |   Chikoos(Sapota) : Sapota Max Price: 5600 Min Price: 2000   |   Papaya : Papaya Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 1400   |   Water Melon : Water Melon Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 1000   |   Guar : Gwar Max Price: 7000 Min Price: 3450   |   Mousambi(Sweet Lime) : Mousambi Max Price: 8000 Min Price: 1900   |   Mousambi(Sweet Lime) : Mosambi-Organic Max Price: 4400 Min Price: 4000   |   Tomato : Deshi Max Price: 4500 Min Price: 1000   |   Tomato : Local Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 200   |   Tomato : Hybrid Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 1000   |   Tomato : Tomato Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 300   |   Cluster beans : Cluster Beans Max Price: 7200 Min Price: 2300   |   Bitter gourd : Bitter Gourd Max Price: 10000 Min Price: 1500   |   Bottle gourd : Bottle Gourd Max Price: 2800 Min Price: 500   |   Ashgourd : Ashgourd Max Price: 8000 Min Price: 800   |   Pumpkin : Pumpkin Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 350   |   Bhindi(Ladies Finger) : Bhindi Max Price: 7000 Min Price: 500   |   Amaranthus : Amaranthus Max Price: 4400 Min Price: 2000   |   Green Chilli : Green Chilly Max Price: 11000 Min Price: 1000   |   Chilly Capsicum : Chilly Capsicum Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 4000   |   Cowpea(Veg) : Cowpea (Veg) Max Price: 6000 Min Price: 3000   |   Banana - Green : Banana - Green Max Price: 4500 Min Price: 900   |   Beans : Beans (Whole) Max Price: 6000 Min Price: 2000   |   Beans : Local Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 3800   |   Amphophalus : Amphophalus Max Price: 7000 Min Price: 5900   |   Ginger(Green) : Green Ginger Max Price: 23000 Min Price: 4500   |   Coconut Seed : Coconut Seed Max Price: 3100 Min Price: 2900   |   Castor Seed : Castor seed Max Price: 5845 Min Price: 4975   |   Copra : Medium Max Price: 10600 Min Price: 10000   |   Dry Chillies : 1st Sort Max Price: 17000 Min Price: 4010   |   Soanf : Soanf Max Price: 468 Min Price: 468   |   Coconut : Coconut Max Price: 2850 Min Price: 2500   |   Coconut : Big Max Price: 3700 Min Price: 3400   |   Sweet Potato : Hosur Green Max Price: 2100 Min Price: 2100   |   Sweet Potato : Sweet Potato Max Price: 2000 Min Price: 1700   |   Carrot : Carrot Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 600   |   Cabbage : Cabbage Max Price: 5200 Min Price: 500   |   Snakeguard : Snakeguard Max Price: 2400 Min Price: 2000   |   Beetroot : Beetroot Max Price: 4200 Min Price: 1200   |   Cucumbar(Kheera) : Cucumbar Max Price: 6000 Min Price: 700   |   Ridgeguard(Tori) : Ridgeguard(Tori) Max Price: 3800 Min Price: 1700   |   Raddish : Raddish Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 300   |   Capsicum : Capsicum Max Price: 8500 Min Price: 1500   |   Green Avare (W) : Green Avare (W) Max Price: 4400 Min Price: 4000   |   Chow Chow : Chow Chow Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 4000   |   Drumstick : Drumstick Max Price: 9400 Min Price: 600   |   Leafy Vegetable : Leafy Vegetables Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 1800   |   Mango (Raw-Ripe) : Mango - Raw-Ripe Max Price: 9000 Min Price: 3000   |   Sweet Pumpkin : Sweet Pumpkin Max Price: 2400 Min Price: 1000   |   Peas Wet : Peas Wet Max Price: 9800 Min Price: 1500   |   Seemebadnekai : Seemebadanekai Max Price: 2400 Min Price: 2000   |   Knool Khol : Knool Khol Max Price: 2400 Min Price: 1600   |   Jack Fruit : Jack Fruit Max Price: 3150 Min Price: 2000   |   Guava : Guava Max Price: 9000 Min Price: 2400   |   Karbuja(Musk Melon) : Karbhuja Max Price: 5000 Min Price: 3000   |   Pomegranate : Pomogranate Max Price: 11000 Min Price: 3500   |   Tender Coconut : Tender Coconut Max Price: 32 Min Price: 30   |   Masur Dal : Masur Dal Max Price: 12000 Min Price: 9500   |   Arhar Dal(Tur Dal) : Arhar Dal(Tur) Max Price: 15000 Min Price: 13000   |   Bengal Gram Dal (Chana Dal) : Bengal Gram (Split) Max Price: 7160 Min Price: 6960   |   Black Gram Dal (Urd Dal) : Black Gram Dal Max Price: 12000 Min Price: 9810   |   Green Gram Dal (Moong Dal) : Green Gram Dal Max Price: 11000 Min Price: 9800   |   Elephant Yam (Suran) : Elephant Yam (Suran) Max Price: 6000 Min Price: 5980   |   Yam (Ratalu) : Yam (Ratalu) Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 2000   |   French Beans (Frasbean) : French Beans (Frasbean) Max Price: 7000 Min Price: 2600   |   Little gourd (Kundru) : Little gourd (Kundru) Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 3000   |   Pointed gourd (Parval) : Pointed gourd (Parval) Max Price: 8000 Min Price: 4200   |   Long Melon(Kakri) : Long Melon (Kakri) Max Price: 2000 Min Price: 2000   |   Peas cod : Peas cod Max Price: 3450 Min Price: 3350   |   Lemon : Lemon Max Price: 13000 Min Price: 4980   |   Sponge gourd : Sponge gourd Max Price: 1400 Min Price: 1000   |   Papaya (Raw) : Papaya (Raw) Max Price: 3000 Min Price: 2000   |   Colacasia : Colacasia Max Price: 8500 Min Price: 2000   |   Kinnow : Kinnow Max Price: 3900 Min Price: 1000   |   Mashrooms : Mashrooms Max Price: 13000 Min Price: 8000   |   Spinach : Spinach Max Price: 2700 Min Price: 400   |   Indian Colza(Sarson) : Indian Colza(Sarson) Max Price: 2200 Min Price: 2000   |   Peas(Dry) : Peas(Dry) Max Price: 5660 Min Price: 3600   |   Tinda : Tinda Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 500   |   Galgal(Lemon) : Galgal(Lemon) Max Price: 6000 Min Price: 5800   |   Amla(Nelli Kai) : Amla Max Price: 2500 Min Price: 2000   |   Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) : Ber(Zizyphus) Max Price: 1000 Min Price: 1000   |   Onion Green : Onion Green Max Price: 4000 Min Price: 1000   |   Gram Raw(Chholia) : Gram Raw(Chholia) Max Price: 1000 Min Price: 800   |   White Peas : White Peas Max Price: 5830 Min Price: 3700   |   Guar Seed(Cluster Beans Seed) : Whole Max Price: 4750 Min Price: 4600   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Basmati) : Basumathi Max Price: 4581 Min Price: 4581   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Basmati) : Sugandha Max Price: 2700 Min Price: 2200   |   Paddy(Dhan)(Basmati) : Basmati 1509 Max Price: 3340 Min Price: 2300   |   buttery : Buttery-Organic Max Price: 4800 Min Price: 4800   |  

New Launch


Federation of Seed Industry, Alliance for Agri Innovation celebrates World Cotton Day

Federation of Seed Industry, Alliance for Agri Innovation celebrates World Cotton Day

On World Cotton Day on 7 October, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and Alliance for Agri Innovation (AAI) celebrates the power of technology like Bt Cotton in making India the world’s leading producer.

Share with : Facebook Whatsapp Twitter Linkedin

GM technology goes beyond Bt Cotton, have larger application in sustainable agriculture

NEW DELHI, 6 October 2021: On World Cotton Day on 7 October, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and Alliance for Agri Innovation (AAI) celebrates the power of technology like Bt Cotton in making India the world’s leading producer.

Pests keep on evolving to survive and try to attack the plants and especially crops. Plants on the other hand, develop their own defence mechanisms to keep these pests at bay. The genes responsible for these defence mechanisms either can be present in the crop plants itself, their wild relatives or in other organisms which are sexually non-compatible.

Scientists try to find the genes that can help plants to supplement their defence against these pests. In most crops, the host defence genes are reassembled and added to the crops so that the development of resistance by the pests can be prevented. In some crops, there are no or very limited genes which can provide resistance.

Bt cotton resistance against bollworm pests

Cotton is a major example, in which host genes for resistance against cotton pests are not there. Therefore, development of transgenic Bt cotton which provide resistance against major bollworms has provided a major relief to farmers for more than two decades. Bollworm pests on the other hand, have evolved and tried to develop resistance against Bt cotton.

Therefore, the argument that Bt Cotton has led to resistance development in insects is simply not true. Resistance development in insects is an age-old phenomenon which was observed with many pesticides used before the advent of Bt Cotton in the country.

Those who read about the history of cotton in India would know about the evolution of insecticide technology which was essentially targeted at the dreaded bollworm. There are three types of bollworms – the most dangerous American bollworm, the Pink Bollworm (PBW) and Early shoot borer. Army worm was also not uncommon. The farmer is always in search of ammunition with which he can fight the bollworm in cotton.

Hybrid cotton

FSII director general Ram Kaundinya said, “Hybrid cotton came in early 70s and the first ten years we fought against bollworms using organophosphates. In early 80s synthetic pyrethroids were introduced, which were more effective and much safer to human beings compared to organophosphates.  It was PBW which was the major pest then in Punjab and Haryana while it was the American bollworm in West and South. So, PBW is not something which has come after Bt Cotton introduction. Extensive and intensive use of synthetic pyrethroids led to outbreaks of white fly and other sucking pests in late 80s.”

“There was a crisis in then Andhra Pradesh and Punjab with white fly in 1986 and 1987 which resulted in farmer suicides and with the insistence of the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh NT Ramarao the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ordered some emergency measures including a rapid approval of four new insecticides to fight the menace of white fly. Situation came under control in a couple of year with proper education of farmers and adoption of some agronomic practices in fields,” Kaundinya added.

Secondary pest flare up happens when the main target is controlled very effectively. Lack of competition gives rise to proliferation of secondary pests which become main pests under such situations. This is natural dynamic for populations competing in an ecosystem. We have to understand that farmers have a continuous fight against pests and armchair ideologues have to get into farmer fields to understand this.

Insect resistance management is a much-studied subject among scientists in the world.  The key is to use products with different modes of actions and follow many other agronomic practices.

Despite a lot of education and extension work on this front, the adoption of such practices by farmers is always less than adequate because they are compelled to use whatever immediate solution, they think is needed to fight the menace in the fields.

Continuous upgradation of technology is needed to keep fighting emerging challenges in crops. Stagnation of technology lets insect populations evolve and does not give us enough ammunition to fight the new challenges.

Factors influencing pests’ outbreak

According to Kaundinya, “Many factors influence the outbreaks of pests. PBW existed and was controlled with chemical pesticides and other practices even before Bt Cotton came into the country. Many measures related to ginning of cotton, movement of cotton seed for oil extraction, transportation of cotton from infected areas to other areas, destruction of plant residues from cotton fields are needed to control the spread of infestation. “

To argue that use of Bt cotton has not resulted in yield increases is a fallacious argument. Cotton yield in the country was 300kg/ha in 2002 when Bt cotton was introduced. It went up to 554kg/ha by 2007 which was a CAGR of 11 percent which is much higher than the 1 percent CAGR in the previous 12 years from 1990 to 2002. Was this not because of better pest control through Bt Cotton that the yields increased?

The fact that yields stagnated after 2008 is to be seen in the context of lack of technology upgradation, price control by governments which made it impossible for seed companies to invest in research to improve the quality of seed varieties.

Bt cotton controlled all bollworms

 FSII executive director Dr Shivendra Bajaj said, “Bt cotton controlled all the bollworms very effectively and continues to do so. Pink Bollworm outbreak could be a result of very good control of other bollworms, but it is also because we have not introduced more advanced upgrades of Bt technology, thanks to the activism and regulatory logjam. The needs of the farmers have been neglected.”

“In many states implementation of proper package of agronomic practices has provided good relief from PBW. GM technology goes beyond Bt Cotton and Herbicide Tolerant cotton. It has many other applications like Water Use Efficiency which reduces the use of water in cultivating crops, Nitrogen Use Efficiency which reduces the use of nitrogenous fertilizers in crops, Heat tolerance which helps crops to grow under higher temperatures, improving the nutritional profile of crops, etc. Many of these applications help us in preserving natural resources and improving nutrition of the poorer sections of the society. Rejecting all of them under the umbrella of GM crops is completely irrational and dangerous,” Bajaj adds.

We must realize that no technology gives permanent and complete solutions. In fact, for a technology to last 15-20 years without upgradation and still give good results is major achievement.

Instead of criticizing the technology, we should advocate for the upgradation and integrated management of the technology. The failed experiment of Sri Lanka with forcing organic cultivation by banning the import of all chemical pesticides and fertilizers is an example of how not to promote organic farming.

Each option should be used in specific applications where it gives the best value to the farmer. We need a basket of technologies including organic, crop protection chemicals, fertilizers, biotechnology interventions and breeding improvements for the farmers to have the awareness and freedom of choose the best and long-lasting solutions.

Image credit: nextias.com


© Copyright 2024 Agriculture Times. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Agriculture Times content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

Support our venture and help farming commmunity in India. If you want us the work better FUND US. For as little as INR 10, you can support2.jpg the AgriTimes™ and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

Partners