Govt pushing for genetically-modified cotton

To halve the Philippines’ cotton imports and revive the industry, government intends to commercialize transgenic or genetically modified cotton most likely by 2012. Eugenio Orpia Jr., administrator of the Cotton Development Administration (CODA), expects that Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton will be commercial commodity in the Philippines by September 2012. “We will start the multilocation trials in September this year pending compliance with the a few remaining requirements. We have submitted a listing of sites for evaluation by the Bureau of Plant Industry and they are now evaluating which sites will qualify," Orpia said. This will help encourage cotton growing, expand the areas planted to the crop, boost farm productivity, and reduce production costs, CODA said. Bt in cotton prevents the infestation of bollworm — a major pest. Initially, CODA is eyeing sites in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Alcala, Pangasinan; Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Polomolok, South Cotabato; and Tubi, South Cotabato. Government started field trials of imported Bt cotton from India in late 2009, ahead of commercial propagation by 2012. The Philippines requires around 40,000 metric tons of lint cotton, valued at P3 billion a year. About 97 percent of the volume is imported mainly from the United States. — PE/VS, GMA News