India: Reduction in insecticide use due to Bt cotton farming

Ministry of Agriculture informed that with the use of high quality hybrid cotton seeds Indian farmers experienced the biggest gain in form of reduced insecticide usage from 46% in 2001 to less than 26% after 2006 and 21% during the last two years 2009 and 2010.

Introduction of Bt. cotton hybrids has helped in production increase from 156 lakh bales (170 Kg lint per bale) in 2001 to an estimated 356 lakh bales in 2011. Bt. cotton was introduced in 2002 and the area increased from 0.29 lakh hectares in 2002 to 95.04 lakh hectare in Kharif 2011 (Target). The productivity was 309 Kg per hectare in 2001 before the introduction of Bt. cotton which increased to 495 Kg/ha in 2010.

The Bt. cotton hybrids approved till date do not require any herbicide, in addition, to those required by their non Bt counterparts for enhancing the results. Also, Cotton farmers in the country are not required to sign any contract.

This information was given by Shri Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.