Bt Cotton's Positive Impact in North India

Small farmers in North India are benefiting largely from the cultivation of Bt cotton. Dr. D. Monga, Director of the Central Institute for Cotton Research Regional Station in Sirsa, Haryana State said that cotton species G. hirsutum and G. arboreum have been cultivated in India, but a decline occurred in the mid- to late 1990's due to the infestation of bollworms, significantly affecting the cotton growing farming community. The introduction of Bt cotton was instrumental in significantly raising farm income of these communities in North India. From 2005 to 2007, a total of 32 Bt cotton varieties have been successfully introduced which increased the Bt cotton hectarage from 60,000 ha in 2005 to 700,000 ha in 2007. There was a reduction in pesticide spraying of 2 to 5 times per season, a yield increase of 115-325 kg/ha and an increase in farmers income of 8,246 rupees per ha (or more than US$200).

The Center in collaboration with other national research institutions are still determined to further improve the GM cotton in the area by developing new cotton varieties that can be easily harvested through picking, with increased insect and disease resistance, and improved lint quality. Dr. Monga and his colleagues briefed Dr. Clive James and the ISAAA board members who visited CICR Regional station and interacted with Bt cotton farmers in Sirsa region.

For details contact Bhagirath Choudhary of ISAAA South Asia Office at: b.choudhary@isaaa.org