New elite Indian Bt Cotton to hit market in three years

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Indian farmers are to benefit from a new indigenously developed Bt Cotton technology that significantly reduces the use of expensive pesticides for controlling insects with CSIR signing an agreement with JK Agri Genetics, Hyderabad to commercialise production.

The new Bt Cotton technology of JK Agri Genetics will use the Cry 1EC gene developed by the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow.

The agreement was signed today between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and JK Agri Genetics.

JK Agri Genetics had launched the new Bt Cotton in the Indian market during the kharif season this year.

The new elite Bt Cotton will give broader insect resistance coverage, particularly against the tobacco caterpillar as well as give durable and uniform protection to crops against the target pests, said CSIR.

The new product will also help in delaying the resistance development in Cotton Bollworm complex, it added.

JK Agri Genetics is expected to complete the regulatory studies and launch the new generation Bt Cotton product within three years.

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