Bangladesh Approves 2 Bt Cotton Varieties

The Bangladesh National Technical Committee on Crop Biotechnology has given its approval for two Bt cotton varieties from Hyderabad-based company JK Agri Genetics. The approval will help cotton farmers in Bangladesh increase their yields and save pesticide costs.

Cotton varieties in Bangladesh produce only 3 tonnes per hectare. Two Bt varieties that the regulators approved would yield over 4 tonnes per hectare. Aside from increased yield, farmers can also save pesticide costs against bollworms.

Bt cotton will be Bangladesh's second genetically engineered crop after Bt brinjal was introduced in 2013. According to ISAAA, 27,000 smallholder farmers in Bangladesh planted Bt brinjal in 2019.

For details, read the article in Fibre2Fashion.