(a) the impact of Bt. Cotton on cotton production in the country and the States encouraging its cultivation;
(b) whether the Government has assessed Bt. Cotton production and its quality in the country;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the details of financial assistance provided to the States including Maharashtra to strengthen seed testing laboratories to test Bt. Cotton seed during each of the last three years and the current year?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab,
Rajasthan, and Tamilnadu are the cotton growing States in the county. The area under Bt.
Cotton increased from 29000 hectares in 2002-03 to 80 Lakh hectares (anticipated) in 2009-10.
The average yield of cotton in India has also increased from 308 Kg/ha in 2001-02 to 560 Kg/ha
in 2007-08. Cultivation of Bt. Cotton has resulted in 31% increase in yield, 39% reduction in
pesticide usage and more than 80% increase in profitability of farmers (ISAAA 2009). India has
emerged as a major cotton exporter with 6.5 million bales of export in 2006.
(b) & (c): The Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur has been conducting
detailed studies at the State level in collaboration with the State Agricultural Universities
of the 9 cotton growing States. Information so far collected indicates that yield have
increased in all the cotton growing states of the country with the introduction of Bt. Cotton.
Bollworms menace in cotton has significantly reduced all over the country and there is a
reduction in market share of insecticides used in Cotton.
(d): The Government has provided financial assistance to all major cotton producing states
to test Bt. Cotton seeds. Details are at Annexure. The State of Maharashtra has been provided
financial assistance of Rs.91 Lakh during 2006-07 for ISTA membership (Rs. 45.00 lakh).
Hybridity testing (Rs.20.00 lakh), DNA Finger Printing facility (Rs.25.00 lakh) and purchase
of Bt. Kits (Rs. 1.00 lakh). Further during 2009-10, another Rs. 50 lakh has been provided to
Maharashtra for strengthening of its three seed testing laboratories and two seed test
laboratories of Maharashtra State Seeds Corporation, Akola.