Question : Cultivation of Bt. Cotton

(a) whether the cultivation of bt. Cotton is more profitable than that of traditional cotton varieties in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the acreage and production of bt. Cotton increased/decreased in the country during the last three years and the current year,
State-wise;

(c) whether the production of cotton in various parts of the country is far less than the targets during the said period and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor,
State-wise;

(d) the details of cotton yield per acre in the country vis-a-vis to those of the United States of America and China and the efforts being made by the Government to increase the same; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in co-ordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to check the fall in the price of cotton and promote the export of cotton to protect the interest of the cotton growers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Traditional cotton varieties do not contain the Bt gene that offers protection against lepidopteran pests particularly bollworms. Bt cotton contained "Bt genes" that offered protection to the crop against bollworms. Under conditions where the infestation due to bollworm is high, cultivation of Bt cotton is profitable. During

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other periods, where the infestation of bollworms is of a low intensity, as it has been the case during majority of the years since the introduction of Bt cotton, cultivation of traditional cotton varieties with good agronomic management can be as profitable as Bt cotton.

State-wise area under Bt. Cotton during 2013-14 to 2016-17 is given in Annexure-I.

(c): The production of cotton has declined from 348.05 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 to 301.47 lakh tonnes in 2015-16 (4th Advance Estimates) which is mainly attributed to drought like condition in major cotton growing states viz. Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh etc., whitefly problem in Punjab & Haryana and Pink bollworm problem in Gujarat, Maharashtra & Karnataka. State-wise target and production of cotton during 2012-13 to 2015-16 is given in Annexure-II.


(d) The cotton yield per ha in the country vis-à-vis to those of the United States of America & China is as under:-
Lint Yield (Kg/ha)
Countries 2013-14 2014-15
USA* 920.60 939.30
China* 1478.70 1508.10
India** 510 462
*Source:- International Cotton Advisory Committee
** Source:- Directorate of Economics & Statistics

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is implementing Cotton Development Programme with a focus on cropping system approach under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in 15 major cotton growing states viz; Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal from 2014-15 with an aim for increasing production & productivity. Under the scheme, thrust is given for transfer of latest technology to cotton growers through Front Line Demonstration (FLD) on Integrated Crop Management (ICM), Intercropping, Desi & Extra Long Staple Cotton, High Density Planting System. The scheme is being implemented through State Department of Agriculture (SDA), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) etc.

Besides, State can support cotton development programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

(e): The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has launched a new scheme namely “Merchandize Exports from India (MEIS)” under Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, wherein the exporters are incentivized for export of specified goods / products to a specified market. Currently, export incentive for Cotton (ITC Code: 57049010) under MEIS is available @ 5% for all the country group A, B & C. In addition, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has put in place various schemes namely Market Development Assistance (MDA), Market Assistance Initiative (MAI), Assistance to State for Development Export infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) etc. to boost export of Agriculture products.


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The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is closely monitoring the domestic price situation. With a view to pass on benefit of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and to ensure remunerative price to a large section of cotton farmers, the Govt. of India has nominated the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) as nodal agency to undertake Minimum Support Price (MSP) operation in all cotton growing States in the event when prices of seed cotton (kapas) touches the MSP level to purchase entire quantity of kapas (FAQ grade) offered by the cotton farmers in various Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market yards at MSP rates.

The export of Cotton at present is under Open General License. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, being the facilitator for the Import and Export of Cotton, vide notification No. 102(RE-2013)/ 2009-14 dated 08.12.2014 has dispensed with the registration requirement for Export of Cotton.

Further, the export incentives i.e., drawback of 1% is available for export of raw cotton falling under Tariff item 5201 vide Notification No. 110/2015 - CUSTOMS (N.T.) dated 16.11.2015 issued by Ministry of Finance, Government of India.