Mumbai, June. 17 (PTI): US biotech major Monsanto, which had earlier launched insect-resistant genetically modified BT cotton, plans to soon come out with drought-tolerant GM maize and cotton seeds, a senior company official said.

The drought-tolerant cotton and maize seeds were already undergoing field trials in the US. Once launched in India, it would help farmers as most of the agriculture in the country was rain-fed, Rajendra Ketkar, deputy managing director of Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) Ltd, told PTI.

Monsanto was also developing weed-resistant GM cotton seeds, for which trials were going on in Australia, Ketkar said, adding this would take a couple of years.

India's farm productivity is as low as one-third of the world average and raising yield using hybrid and genetically modified variety would help the country to raise output three times without bringing additional area under cultivation.

Ketkar claimed four million farmers have switched over to genetically modified BT cotton (bollgard) in nine states and nearly half of the 22 million acres under cotton cultivation in the country was now using this variety.

On the drought-resistant varieties, he said "this would be a great boost to farmers located in highly dry areas or who just depend on irrigation for their farming".

The field trials for maize (corn) were being carried out in the US and cotton trait was undergoing testing, he said, adding Monsanto makes huge investment in research and development, almost USD 700 million globally.

Ketkar said after the success of Bollgard I in terms of productivity, quality and economics in the last decade, the company has developed a superior trait Bollgard II and trials in over two-lakh acres have been held.