By Abhay Vaidya, Times of India via Checkbiotech

The first comprehensive field survey based study on Bt cotton in Maharashtra has thrown some valuable pointers that could help chart the future of genetically modified cotton cultivation in the state.

While suggesting that the government should investigate into bollworm and other pests/diseases attacks in Mahyco-Monsanto Mech-162 Bt cotton variety (see Monsanto's cotton has deficiencies: study, TOI June 5), the study by the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) here has made a series of policy recommendations.

The recommendations are based on the major findings of an analytical comparison of 100 Bt cotton farmers and 50 non-Bt cotton farmers in the prominent cotton growing districts of Yavatmal and Buldhana.

The comparison was drawn for the kharif 2003 sowings between Bt cotton varieties Mech-162 and Mech-184, and the popular hybrid varieties, Bunny-145 and Anukur-651.

Pointing out that over 95 per cent of cotton cultivation in Maharashtra is under rainfed conditions, the report "Economics of Bt cotton cultivation in Maharashtra" has called for a comprehensive study "covering the crops under both irrigated and rainfed area to find out whether Bt cotton can be cultivated without any risk under rainfed conditions."

The report by GIPE scholars A Narayanamoorthy and S S Kalamkar has said that although returns from Bt cotton were "considerably higher" than that of non-Bt cotton, the same could not be expected in rainfed conditions.

The GIPE study noted that Mahyco-Monsanto did not take serious efforts to disseminate their package of practices in the field. Since Bt cotton is a new crop in India, it was necessary for the seed company to educate farmers on Bt cotton cultivation.

"It is suggested that the seed company should invest some portion of their profit for extension services to sustain the cultivation of Bt cotton," the study noted.

On a positive note, the study said that profits realised from Bt cotton (Rs 31,880/ha) were substantially higher than non-Bt cotton (Rs 17,790/ ha) in both the districts, indicating a difference of Rs 14,090/ha.

Although the profit of Bt cotton growers was nearly 80 per cent higher than that of non-Bt cotton growers, the high cost of seeds had made it unaffordable to small farmers. Therefore, as a short-term measure, direct subsidy may be granted for the seeds for a specific period of time.

As a long term measure a role for the public sector in transgenic cotton seed production could be envisaged by activating research and development activities.

Policy makers could also consider adequate credit facilities for Bt cotton cultivation in view of the high profit realised by Bt cotton farmers.

Bt cotton in the two districts was found to have higher cost efficiency over the non-genetic varieties because of the substantial increase in the productivity of Bt cotton. While the production cost for one quintal of Bt cotton was Rs 1,086, it was Rs 1,226 for the non-Bt crop.

Although Maharashtra accounted for 34 per cent of the national area under cotton cultivation, productivity was one of the lowest (137kg/ha in 2001-02) because of poor irrigation facilities for the crop, the GIPE scholars said.

The relatively higher productivity of cotton in Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan "seem to support the fact that coverage of irrigation is important for increasing the productivity of cotton in any state," the study said.

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