BG-III cotton seeds identified, Central government assures action

Hyderabad Dec 7: In a move to stop the cultivation of BG-III cottonseed
( herbicide-tolerant trait of cottonseed ) The central government has
constituted a Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC) to take appropriate action and suggested measures to curb the
spread of BG-III cotton in the country.

Earlier the Telangana State Seed and Organic Certification Authority along with the help of Agriculture department have conducted field visits and concluded that some farmers are cultivating BG-III which is not approved by any authentic agency in the country.

The seed certification Authority has also found that unapproved BG-III was released into the fields by unidentified entities and agencies through its mechanism.

The Authority has also written a letter to central government and highlighted the illegal entry of BG-III cotton variety into the Indian market and requested them to take immediate action after it identified BG-III trait entry into the market.

BG-III is a herbicide tolerant variety of cotton seed which has not been approved by the the central government and Telangana seed Authority has registered PD Act against the owners who supplied spurious seeds.