NEW DELHI: Industry body ASSOCHAM on Wednesday voiced concern over the verdict of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) in the case of Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) Ltd. (MMB). It asked the Commission to review its trait value and its decision.

In a statement issued here, ASSOCHAM said, the judgement of MRTPC in this particular case was inappropriate and would serve as a setback to both the agricultural and biotechnology industry in India.

ASSOCHAM, however, added that the use and application of biotechnology should be encouraged to promote Indian agriculture as with the introduction of Bollgard cotton in India in 2002. Bt cotton farmers have enjoyed numerous benefits including substantial increase in yields per acre, greater profits and better savings due to reduced pesticide usage.

Approximately one million resource-poor farmers have increased incomes from biotech crops, which has contributed to the alleviation of their poverty. The yield in cotton has gone up consistently since the introduction of Bollgard in the country. It increased from 309 kg/hectare in 2002 to more than 460 kg/hectare in 2005. The interim ruling of the MRTPC will create an unfavourable atmosphere in India with regards to corporate investments and will impede industrial and agricultural growth as the ruling comes at a time when the nascent biotechnology industry in the country has just begun to flourish.

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