Now It’s official that
Bt.cotton failed 12 million hectors in India
As
per recent admission of Dr C.D. Mayee, President of Indian
Society for Cotton Improvement who was instrumental in
giving blanket permission for commercial trials of
genetically modified (GM) Bt.cotton seed notoriously known
as killer seed in part of cotton growing region of India
where more than 2 lakhs cotton farmers committed suicides in
last decade to US seed giant Monsanto Inc thatCotton yield
in the country seems to be on a downswing in the last three
years, as per official figure of ICAR, Bt.cotton yield per
hectare hit a record 554 kg in 2007-08. Since then, it has
been dropping, touching 486 kg/hectare in 2009-10 before
rising to 496 kg/hectare last season. This season, too, the
yield is expected to be drop down to significant low level
this year because the Bt strains and hybrids, that account
for nearly 95 per cent of the total area under cotton, are
losing their strength but the Cotton research scientists
have a different take on the drop in yield but fact is that
area under cotton has touched a record 121.91 lakh hectares
(lh) this year. When the yield hit a record 554 kg/hectare
in 2007-08, the area under cotton was 94.14 lh and
Scientists point out to Maharashtra as an example of more
new areas coming under cotton. Dr. Mayee added.
“The problem with growing cotton in non-traditional dry land
areas is that the productivity is low.
Some farmers in Maharashtra have taken to cotton farming
without the requisite experience. It is one of the reasons
for some committing suicide Since January, 704 farmers have
reportedly committee suicide in the Vidarbha region of
Maharashtra,” said officials in Maharashtra Mantralaya
“Growing cotton in areas where it has never been sown is a
problem since it could be rain-fed. This year, rainfall has
been erratic and it has affected cotton,” said the
official.7
Cotton farmers shifting to Bollgard II that is supposed to
be superior to Bollgard I pests, including sucking pests,
leaf curl virus and jassids, are creating problems in
cotton, resulting maximum use of pesticide and giving
significant drop on production front .in last five years
cultivation cost has jumped from Rs.5000/- hector has jumped
to Rs.30,000/- hector in maharashtra and average yield and
stable cost has caused huge economic losses to agrarian
community in cotton growing areas and hence cotton afrmers
suicides have been restarted ,Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha
Janandoan Samiti (VJAS) informed in press release today.
‘The complete ban of killer seed Bt.cotton in rain fed areas
of India is must and further permission of commercial trials
any GM seed should be stopped immediately” Tiwari said.
Courtesy: Indian Agrarian Crisis
