No adverse effect of BT Cotton: Central Govt

     New Delhi, August 06, 2024: Government of India today clarified that research have shown no adverse effect of Bt. cotton cultivation on soil ecological parameters.

     Bt. cotton is the only Genetically Modified (GM) crop approved in 2002 by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for commercial cultivation in the Country, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha said today.

     Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur conducted study to evaluate the impact of Bt. cotton in Maharashtra during 2012-13 and 2013-14, the Minister said.

     ICAR-CICR also conducted study on impact of Bt. cotton on soil ecology. During the period of survey the incidence of bollworms infestation reduced drastically and also decreases in number of insecticide application from 8 to 4.

     Further, ICAR-CICR studies had shown no adverse effect of Bt. cotton cultivation on soil ecological parameters, he said.

     During the year 2023–24, in Andhra Pradesh State 4,73,345 farmers are cultivating Bt. cotton.

     The study conducted by ICAR-CICR observed a yield difference of 3-4 quintal per acre with the adoption of Bt. cotton. Further, ICAR-CICR study revealed that increase in income with the adoption of Bt. cotton is due to yield increase and reduction in insecticide cost against the cotton bollworm.

     Current net return from Bt. cotton is estimated at Rs.25,000 per ha in rainfed situation with the adoption of suitable agronomy, he said.

     With the rapid adoption of Bt. cotton by the farmers, currently more than 96 per cent area under cotton cultivation is occupied by the Bt. cotton, to conduct such study on Bt. cotton is difficult as the corresponding non Bt. cotton are not under cultivation.