Lok Sabha Question No. 2236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Illegal Cotton Seed Business
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA, KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY, S. RAJENDRAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2236

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31 ST   JULY, 2018

## ILLEGAL COTTON SEED BUSINESS

2236.  SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA: SHRI S. RAJENDRAN: SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a high-level expert panel set up by the Government has found that nearly 15 per cent area under cotton was planted with illegally produced and unapproved Herbicide Tolerant (HT) seeds in the 2017 kharif crop season, if so, the details thereof including the total estimated area which were planted with illegal and unapproved herbicide tolerant seeds in the country;
- (b) whether there is huge unregulated market for genetically modified cotton (GM) seeds, which  is  potentially  harmful  to  the  environment  as  it  entails  use  of  herbicides  which  are otherwise restricted, if so, the details thereof including the estimated losses due to illegal cotton seed business in the 2017 kharif crop season;
- (c) whether  the  Field  Inspection  and  Scientific  Evaluation  Committee  (FISEC)  panel collected 13,361 leaf and seed samples and found 15% prevalence of unapproved HT cotton in major  States  like  Andhra  Pradesh,  Telangana,  Maharashtra  and  Gujarat,  and  about  5%  in Punjab, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether farmers are using unapproved genetically modified HT cotton seeds to save on labour costs, if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to curb such type of malpractices and provide good quality cotton seeds to the farmers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  GAJENDRA SINGH SEKHAWAT)

- (a): Yes Madam, the high level expert  penal  i.e.  Field  Inspection  and  Scientific  Evaluation Committee  (FISEC)  has  been  constituted  under  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  to investigate  the  veracity  of  spread  of  unapproved  HT  cotton  in  the  country.  Based  on  the investigation, FISEC, reported that nearly 15% area (which comes around 16.60 Lakh Hectare of total cultivated area of cotton during 2017) under cotton cultivation was planted with illegally produced and unapproved HT seeds.

(b): Few  incidences  of  illegal  marketing  of  Genetically  Modified  seeds  (HT  Cotton)  were reported in the States   of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telengana and Maharashtra. However, no reports on losses due to HT Cotton have been reported by State Governments.

(c) to (e): Yes Madam. Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC) panel collected 13,361 leaf and seed samples and found 15% prevalence of unapproved HT cotton in major States like Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and about 5% in Punjab.

Farmers  were  using  unapproved  HT  cotton  seeds  to  save  labour  costs  as  it  is  less labour  intensive  and  hence  cost  beneficial,  but  as  it  is  unapproved,  therefore  DAC&FW  has issued  advisory  to  all  cotton  growing  States  to  control  and  curb  the  sale  and  cultivation  of unapproved HT cotton vis-à-vis its seed production, processing and storage. Accordingly, major cotton growing State Governments have taken necessary measures.

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