ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: Pakistan has decided to seek support from Monsanto, an American company dealing in Bio-technology, particularly in introduction and expansion of the Bt cotton crop.

The decision was made in a meeting of the steering committee on Bt cotton on Thursday in which the federal minister for food and agriculture was given a briefing by officials of Monsanto.

The American agriculture company provides Bio-technology in agriculture and is interested in introducing Bt cotton seed and modern seed technology apparently to improve the yield of cotton crop in the country.

But, some agricultural experts are of the view that Pakistan should not repeat the mistake, which India committed in 2005.

India had to ban Monsanto and its Indian partner from selling three varieties of genetically modified (GM) cotton in the south of the country.

India had suffered losses of $80 million in each of two states, where the farmers cultivated Bt cotton.

Some critics of the Bt cotton believe that its introduction in Pakistan would open a Pandora Box of issues for growers.

China had recently cultivated its own produced cotton on 1.5 million acres. But, later the Chinese state environmental protection agency had a study done by the Institute of Environmental Sciences in Nanking, which found that the Bt cotton was not just killing the bollworm, but also eliminating natural parasitic enemies of the pest and opening up the field to other pests as well.

However, Mr Gondal remarked, “We cannot increase the agricultural productivity without investing in seed research and improved seed technology and for this purpose companies like Monsanto are doing wonderful job in transferring technology to the underdeveloped countries.”

He said cotton was one of the most important crops and there was a dire need to improve the quality and yield of cotton to strengthen agriculture as well as textile industry and exports.

A sub-committee was formed to finalise the modalities of investment by Monsanto in providing best cotton seed technology to Pakistan and to settle royalty issues.