Source: Mint
Context:
On January 1, 2026, the Government of India unveiled a major agricultural productivity drive by releasing around 185 new high-yielding seed varieties and hybrids across a wide range of crops. The move aims to improve seed quality, raise farm productivity, and strengthen food security, with a special focus on reviving cotton yields.
What Has Been Announced?
- ~185 new seed varieties and hybrids released for cultivation and commercial sale
- Covers key crops:
- Rice
- Maize
- Cotton
- Millets
- Pulses
- Oilseeds
- Sugarcane
Key Feature
- All newly released cotton seeds remain Bt-II hybrids
- Bt-II refers to second-generation Bt cotton, containing Bacillus thuringiensis genes for pest resistance
- Indicates policy continuity, with no introduction of new biotech traits
India remains the world’s second-largest cotton producer, after China, but has faced stagnant yields, pest pressures, and rising cultivation costs in recent years.
What are Bt-II hybrids?
Bt-II hybrids are genetically modified (GM) cotton hybrids that contain two insect-resistant genes (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). These genes enable the cotton plant to produce toxins that kill bollworm pests, especially the American bollworm.
Why Bt-II? (Bt-I vs Bt-II)
- Bt-I hybrids:
- Contain only one gene (Cry1Ac)
- Effective initially but pests developed resistance over time
- Bt-II hybrids:
- Contain two genes (Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab)
- Provide broader and more durable resistance to bollworms
