The Indian government is deliberating complex policy decisions regarding herbicide-tolerant BT (HTBT) cotton and the use of the herbicide glyphosate as industry demands intensify, Agriculture Commissioner P.K. Singh said on Friday.
The discussions focus on whether to permit widespread glyphosate use in cotton farming and the potential introduction of HTBT cotton varieties. "On one hand, the industry is demanding the use of glyphosate in cotton. Then how to go for that?" Singh said during a session on weed management challenges in India.
A dedicated committee is currently reviewing the implications of introducing herbicide-tolerant cotton, particularly as glyphosate may be used even without such modifications, Singh noted. He emphasised that these policy issues remain unresolved and require thorough examination.
German life sciences company Bayer has applied for regulatory approval of Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex (BG-II RRF), a herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant BT cotton variety, in India. Traditionally, India has adopted a cautious approach toward genetically modified crops and associated farming practices.
Singh also called for an "integrated approach" to weed management, amid a growing labour shortage. "New things are coming... Can there be an integrated approach with a mix of mechanisation, herbicide application and herbicide-tolerant varieties?" he asked.
Currently, herbicides hold a 40% share in the agrochemicals market, Singh said, stressing the need for specific weed control solutions. He also urged a reassessment of the positive impact of interculture operations, which were traditionally promoted to improve crop yields.
ICAR Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management) S.K. Chaudhari said that the future of weed management will likely involve advanced technologies. He warned that climate change poses significant risks to agricultural productivity, including the proliferation of weeds.
"As the sector moves towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, there's a growing emphasis on chemical-free farming practices," Chaudhari said, noting that transitioning to organic or natural methods presents challenges in weed management.
Ajai Rana, Chairman of the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), highlighted the urgency of weed control. "Weeds are like Ravans, which we have not addressed good enough. Weed control has not got desired attention in our system. This is a need of the hour when labour costs are increasing," he said.
A collaborative study titled ‘Weed Management: Emerging Challenges and Management Strategies’ was unveiled during the event, estimating that weeds account for 25-26% of yield losses in kharif crops and 18-25% in rabi crops, leading to an annual economic loss of around Rs 92,000 crore across India.
The event was organised by the Directorate of Weed Research (DWR) and FSII, and attended by DWR Director J.S. Mishra and other ICAR officials.
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