In a letter to the Director-General of the ICAR, Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, pointed out that encouraging yield levels of cotton had been obtained in Punjab during the last crop season. Notwithstanding a sharp fall in the prices of cotton, farmers are enthusiastic to increase the area under cotton, which shall help in the endeavour to diversify agriculture in the state. But the non-availability of any approved variety of Bt cotton has become an issue of serious concern for the university and the state government. Cotton growers of the state have been impressed with the good performance of Bt cotton in experimental plots in Punjab as well as from the reports of commercial Bt cotton in central and southern states.

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that despite special efforts by the university and the state government last year, the approval of Bt cotton varieties could not be obtained due to procedural problems. Now the stipulated trials on Bt cotton in the north zone under the aegis of the ICAR have been repeated for the second year. The final decision is to be taken by the GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Dr Aulakh expressed concern over the delay in the release of the approved Bt cotton varieties. It would be appropriate if the final decision on the approval of Bt cotton is taken at the earliest so that farmers do not feel forced to purchase seed of unapproved Bt cotton from unauthorised sources.

The Vice-Chancellor has also written to Capt Amarinder Singh in this regard and requested him to take up the matter with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. The GEAC is meeting on February 8 to take stock of the situation.

Dr G.S. Chahal, Additional Director of Research, PAU, said the university had tested eight Bt cotton varieties, which had been found suitable for cultivation in the north zone. The PAU has received another 18 varieties for conducting trials.

Enquiries revealed that the pesticide lobby is pressurising the quarters concerned to delay the release of approved Bt cotton varieties as the same would result in the less sale of pesticides.