Bangladesh will begin cultivating genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton or Bt cotton in order to boost the crop’s production, according to Matia Chowdhury, agriculture minister of the country. The decision to cultivate Bt cotton has been taken as the harmful pest bollworm is posing as an obstacle in increasing the production of the crop.
Chowdhury disclosed this information while replying to a query that was raised in Jatiya Sangsad.
She also said that the Cotton Development Board (CDB) has set up demonstration farms to introduce the new cotton variety. Initiative will be taken to extend its cultivation after the trial period by distributing it to farmers, said Bangladeshi media reports quoting Chowdhury.
The ‘research development for developed variety cotton and its seed’ project is also underway to develop a variety of cotton which is high-yielding and takes relatively short time for cultivation, she added. (KD)
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