Andhra mulls GM Seeds Act

In an effort to keep tabs on the sale, quality and distribution of genetically modified (GM) seeds in the state, the Andhra Pradesh government is mulling to come out with a 'GM Seeds Act'.

The move is aimed at controlling the Bt Cotton seed activity in the state. Bt Cotton acreage is expected to cross the 20-lakh-acre mark this year as against 16 lakh acres in 2006-07 and 5.5 lakh acres the year before.

Addressing a press conference here, agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy said the ministry was in the process of taking legal and technical opinion on the scope

of making a separate legislation. "It will take one or two days to arrive at a decision in this regard," he said.

Reddy also had a talk with Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on retaining cotton seed in the Essential Commodities Act, which would reinstate the state's power to dictate terms.

Quoting a preliminary report by Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University, Raghuveera Reddy said there was not much increase in productivity when farmers used Bt Cotton seed. "But the number of sprays (pesticides) has gone down significantly, saving them Rs 3,000-5,000 on an acre," he said.