Pakistani Farmers Look to Biotechnology to Increase Cotton Crop Yields

Cotton industry sources estimate that by the end of 2010, that 50% of the world's cotton crops will be grown from Genetically Modified (GM) seeds. Farmers in Pakistan, one of the world's leading exporters of raw cotton and its finished products, are now using cotton seeds that are bio-engineered to resist damage from Bollworms. This #1 cotton pest is a caterpillar, or larval stage that eats or sucks in, on and around the cotton fruit or boll, either causing it to fall off, or rot.

Although to this author, cotton scientists seem to be divided on the effectiveness of seeding with GM seeds, farmers in Pakistan who have used the GM seeds report a 30% increase in crop yields. Specifically, the seeds are bio-engineered to contain Bacillus thuringiensis,(a strain of bacteria that repels Cotton Bollworms).

Unfortuately, this wave of new found cash has brought with it those out to make a quick rupee, just like those pirating Saira Arshad or Shehzad Roy music. Pakistani government officials warn that pirated or fake GM cotton seeds may be non-local, unsuited to the soil or climate and in addition, might introduce viruses or disease that could devastate the cotton crop in Pakistan.

MORE READING:

Profile of Pakistan
Quick Facts About Growing Organic Cotton
Controlling the Cotton Bollworm Using Integrated Pest Management Techniques