Modified Bt cotton performance in Maharashtra

24 Mar '06

4 min read

The AgBioWorld Foundation reported a the study of the commercial growing of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton in India, compares the performance of over 9,000 Bt and non-Bt cotton farm plots in Maharashtra over the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

Results show that since their commercial release in 2002, Bt cotton varieties have had a significant positive impact on average yields and on the economic performance of cotton growers.

Regional variation showed that, in a very few areas, not all farmers had benefited from increased performance of Bt varieties. India ranks third in global cotton production after the United States and China.

With 9 million hectares grown in 2004/5, India accounted for approximately 20% of the world's total cotton area and 12% of global cotton production (Cotton Corporation of India). Cotton is a very important cash crop for Indian farmers.

However, average cotton yields in India have been 300 kg/ha, compared with a world average of 580 kg/ha (Sen). One major limiting factor to cotton output is damage due to insect pests, especially bollworms. In March 2002, the Indian Government allowed commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton. The Bt gene produces a protein that is toxic to bollworms.

Over 12,000 hectares in the state of Maharashtra grown by over 17,000 farmers (Maharashtra State Department of Agriculture). This increased to some 86,000 hectares in 2003 (30,000 in Maharashtra) and to over 530,000 hectares in 2004 (205,000 in Maharashtra).

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