May 14, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 8, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 13: The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) and a US company signed a letter of intent (LoI) on Tuesday to expand cotton production in Pakistan by introducing Monsanto-derived insect protection technology ‘Bollgard’.

Minfal Secretary Muhammed Zia-ur-Rehman and Monsanto’s Asia Pacific Vice President Andre Dias signed the LoI.

The Minfal secretary said on the occasion that the move was aimed at advancing transgenic technology in the agriculture sector of the country and it would help implement practical solutions to expand cotton production through commercialisation of technology.

He said the farmers would be provided information and education regarding the safety and benefits of the new technology besides developing business models and market services.

Mr Dias said that Monsanto was a leading global provider of transgenic technology-based tools and agricultural products that had successfully improved farm productivity.