21 September 2002, Gujarat Samachar 

Boll worm Attacks Bt Cotton in Gujarat

In a recent news published by Gujarat Samachar (a vernacular daily having
largest circulation in Gujarat dated 21st Sept. 02) it is mentioned that
boll worms have started attacking some of the Bt Cotton producing
districts of Gujarat namely Bhavanagar, Surendranagar and Rajkot.
Initially Bt Cotton was found resistant to Boll worms in the early phase
of plant growth, but as soon as the formation of boll has started, the
worms started attacking them.

The news report says that the Dept. of Agriculture, Gujarat state has
writen a letter to Gujarat Agricultural University to submit a status
report providing details information about the kind and intensity of the
damage.  News paper also reports that the area under Bt Cotton is about
18000 ha. (while the Central Govt. has permitted for 12000 ha.) i.e.
cultivation of 6000 ha. is illegal as per official reports in Gujarat. 
The report of damage is surprising to authorities & scientists as well, 
the newspaper reports.


Comments from Kapil Shah

Anti Bt Cotton Campaign in Gujarat

As many of you know Bt. Cotton is the first GM crop approved officially in
India and this is the first cropping season after official approval. Of
course, a year ago, in September 2001, it was found that the farmers 
have been cultivating Bt Cotton since 2000 unofficially and unknowingly by
purchasing Bt Seeds from a local seed company.

I believe that, the area under Bt. Cotton in Gujarat will be more (at
least double) than the news report. Farmers have purchased seeds of Bt
Cotton from various unofficial sources. As there are not enough regulation
& mechanism to monitor the GM crop in Gujarat.  Farmer have been sowing F2
and F3 seeds and even spurious seeds since last 2 or 3 years. In such a
case, the chances & speed of development of resistance against Bt toxin 
in boll worms are much higher.

In a way, this is not that surprising to those who have been campaigning
and warned farmers against Bt. Cotton.