Question : Cotton Cultivation

(a) the main cotton growing/producing regions of the country;

(b) the production and productivity of cotton in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether cotton farmers in the country are shifting from the cultivation of cotton to other crops and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor and the measures taken/being taken by the Government to encourage the farmers to cultivate cotton;

(d) the details of seed companies engaged in the production of Bt. Cotton seeds in the country; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to grant permission to more companies to produce Bt. cotton seeds and if so, the details and the objectives thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a): The major cotton growing States are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana & Tamil Nadu. Cotton is also grown in the States of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura & West Bengal.

(b): The State wise production and productivity of cotton in major States for the last three years and current year in the country is at Annexure-I.

(c): The cultivation of crops including cotton depends upon the preference of farmers which is attributed to many factors like agro-climatic condition, market prices, resource availability etc. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is implementing Cotton Development Programme with a focus on cropping system approach under National Food
Continue….2/-


-2-


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. Under the scheme, thrust is given for transfer of latest technology to cotton growers through Front Line Demonstration (FLD) on Integrated Crop Management (ICM), Desi Cotton, 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.

ICAR extends various technology including Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) & monitoring & surveillance of insecticide pest diseases on cotton.

(d): As per the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, the details of Seed companies producing Bt Cotton is as under:-

M/s Mahyco, M/s Rasi Seeds Ltd., M/s Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd, M/s Ankur Seeds Ltd, M/s Ganga Kaveri Seeds Pvt Ltd, M/s Krishidhan Seeds Pvt Ltd, M/s Ajeet Seeds Ltd, M/s Tulasi Seeds Pvt Ltd, M/s Prabhat Seeds Ltd, M/s Emergent Genetics, M/s Vikram Seeds Pvt Ltd, M/s Pravardhan Seeds Ltd, M/s Vikki Agrotech Pvt Ltd, M/s JK Agri Genetics Seeds Ltd, M/s Nath Seeds Ltd, M/s Vibha Agrotech Ltd, M/s Nandi Seeds (P) Ltd, M/s Pro Agro Seeds (P) Ltd, M/s Namdhari Seeds (P) Ltd, M/s Bio Seeds Research, M/s Bayer Biosciences Pvt Ltd, M/s Green Gold Pvt Ltd, M/s Monsanto Genetics Pvt Ltd, M/s Navkar Hybrid Seeds Pvt Ltd, M/s Seed Works Pvt Ltd, M/s Solar Agrotech Pvt Ltd, M/s Uniphos Enterprises, M/s Zuari Seeds Ltd, M/s Metahelix Life Sciences Pvt Ltd.

(e): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi under the “Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms /Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 (the Rules, 1989)” notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is concerned with the environmental release of genetically modified organisms and products thereof in the territory of India. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) established under Rule 4 of “the Rules, 1989” has adopted “event based approval mechanism (EBAM) in respect of Bt cotton hybrids expressing approved events in its meeting held on 2.4.2008 and subsequently a new procedure under the EBAM was adopted by the GEAC in its meeting held on 14.1.2009. In accordance with the decision taken therein, a new procedure was made applicable for approval of Bt cotton hybrids based on recommendation of the standing committee on a case to case basis.