To save moribund cotton industry PHL turns to biotech

To revive the moribund cotton industry, the government is turning to biotechnology with a view to commercial propagation of Indian hybrid seeds by 2012. Genetically-altered cotton or Bt cotton may be the answer to the ailing industry, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said Monday at the sidelines of the 6th National Biotechnology Week at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. “Through biotechnology there is a great chance that the cotton industry may still flourish given the proper incentives," Alcala told reporters. The Agriculture Department will use the re-enacted budget of P54 million to fund ongoing field trials of Bt cotton for 2011, he added. According to the Biotechnology Program Office, bollworm infestation nearly decimated the cotton industry and it was only in late 2009 that the Philippines was able to test Bt cotton in field trials the results of which are still to be released by Agriculture Department. The Bt cotton seeds, provided for free by Nath Biogene (India) Ltd., were genetically modified to resist bollworms. The field trials will evaluate how six Indian hybrid cotton varieties that contain the China-developed fused Bt genes are effective in resisting bollworm infestation under local conditions. Bt cotton is planted largely in China and India, where the genetically-altered varieties have been proven to lower production costs while raising the yield, the Agriculture Department said. The Philippine needs about 40,000 metric tons — in lint terms — of cotton valued at P3 billion a year, of which nearly all but 3 percent is imported primarily from the US. — VS, GMANews.TV