Biotech Updates

Indian BT Cotton Ouput Reaches 66 per cent

February 8, 2008

Statistics released by the Cotton Association of India revealed that Bt cotton represents 66 percent of the total cotton grown in the country this season, with the total area reaching more than 9.5 million hectares. The transgenic cotton is extensively planted in the central Indian zone particularly in Maharashtra and Gujarat, with a total acreage of about 4 million hectares. Areas of 1.08 million and 870,000 hectares respectively are cultivated in the southern (mostly in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh) and northern (mainly in Punjab) zones.

Despite large cotton planting areas, India lags at a significant distance to other cotton-cultivating countries in terms of production. The use of Bt cotton, however, has fostered Indian yields since the 2000-2001season, when the country produced just 338kg less cotton per hectare than the world average. With the expected harvest of 31 million bales in the current season, national shortfall is anticipated to be only at 212 kg per hectare.

For more information read http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/327.docu.html