India’s Cotton Story: From Growth to Struggle

1. Cotton is a major cash crop in India, grown on 12 million hectares.
2. India is the second-largest cotton producer globally, after China.
3. Bt cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial use in India.
4. It was introduced in 2002 by Monsanto (Bollgard), in partnership with Mahyco.
    

The Cotton Boom (2002–2014)
 

1. Between 2002-03 and 2013-14, cotton production rose from 13.6 to 39.8 million bales.
2. Exports increased from less than 0.1 to 11.6 million bales; imports dropped from 2.2 to 1.1 million.
3. India became the world's top cotton producer by 2015-16 and a major exporter.
4. Yield rose due to hybrid varieties and Bt technology—from 127 to 566 kg/hectare.
5. Bt cotton adoption reached 95% of total cotton area by 2013-14.
    

Technology Behind the Growth
 

1. Indian scientists developed key cotton hybrids: H-4 (1970), Varalaxmi (1972), and LSS (1933).
2. Bt cotton (2002) used genes from soil bacteria to kill bollworm pests.
3. Bollgard-II (2006) had two Bt genes, targeting both bollworms and leafworms.
    

Post-2014 Decline: Yields & Output Fall
 

1. After 2013-14, production stagnated and began to fall.
2. Average output during the last 5 years has been ~33.8 million bales.
3. In 2024–25, production is expected to drop to 29.5 million bales — lowest since 2008-09.
4. Yield has declined to below 450 kg/hectare.
    

Unkept Promises of Bt Cotton
 

1. Bt cotton was expected to reduce pesticide use and increase farmer income.
2. While initial results were positive, pests like the pink bollworm developed resistance.
3. Farmers returned to heavy pesticide use, increasing costs and ecological harm.
4. Secondary pests like whitefly and mealybugs began damaging crops.
    

Research Findings on Bt Cotton
 

1. Bt cotton failed to deliver long-term benefits in rainfed, smallholder conditions.
2. High seed cost and low-density planting limited yield potential.
3. Pink bollworm resistance led to more pesticide use and pest outbreaks.
4. Farming became more capital-intensive with no sustained yield gain.
5. Farmers now spend more on seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides than before.
6. M.S. Swaminathan and others called Bt cotton unsustainable and unethical for poor farmers.
7. Farmers were pushed back to traditional pest control methods like IPM.
8. Suicide rates were higher in areas with high Bt adoption and low yields.
9. High-density, short-season cotton is seen as a better option by experts.
    

Policy Paralysis and GM Regulation Failures
 

1. In 2010, Bt brinjal was blocked despite scientific approval.
2. Activist-led consultations were prioritized over expert advice.
3. Under NDA, GM field trials were halted entirely.
4. GM crops were treated as hazardous under the Environment Act, 1986.
5. Innovations like hybrid GM mustard and pest-resistant cotton were blocked.
6. Courts delayed approvals despite years of trials and safety data.
7. No new cotton technology has been approved since Bollgard-II in 2006.
    

Pest Outbreaks Worsen the Crisis
 

1. Pink bollworm infestations began in 2014 in central and southern India.
2. By 2018, the pest had spread to northern cotton zones.
3. New GM pest-resistant seeds were ready but not cleared.
4. Farmers had no updated tools to handle emerging pest threats.
    

Imports Rise, Global Players Benefit
 

1. Cotton imports doubled from $518.4 million to $1,040.4 million (Apr–Jan 2024-25).
2. Exports declined from $729.4 million to $660.5 million in the same period.
3. India has once again become a net importer of cotton.
4. Countries like the US and Brazil benefit from India's production decline.
5. US is likely to push India to remove the 11% import duty on cotton.
6. India allowed GM soya meal imports in 2021; pressure for GM corn imports is rising.
    

Farmers Left Behind
 

1. Farmers have no access to improved GM technologies developed in India.
2. At the same time, imported GM food products are entering through ports.
3. Farmers were never consulted then — and still aren't today.
    

GM Crops vs Traditional Pest Management (IPM)
 

Aspect	GM Crops (Bt cotton)	Traditional Pest Management (IPM)
Core Idea	Genetic resistance to pests	Use of natural enemies and farm practices
Initial Benefit	Reduced pesticide use early on	Encourages natural pest control, less chemical use
Long-Term Performance	Resistance builds up, yields stagnate	Sustainable, adaptable over time
Cost of Seeds	High; hybrid seeds can’t be reused	Low; farmers can save and reuse seeds
Input Dependency	High on costly seeds and fertilizers	Low; relies on local inputs
Pest Resistance	Pink bollworm and others developed resistance	Slower resistance due to diverse methods
Secondary Pests	Whitefly and mealybugs increased	Better pest balance maintained
Suitability	Better for irrigated, large farms	Better for rainfed, smallholder farms
Environmental Impact	High pesticide use, ecological imbalance	Supports biodiversity, reduces pollution
Farmer Training Needed	Low initially, high later	Needs moderate training and awareness
Economic Risk for Farmers	High risk of debt if crop fails	Lower input cost, less financial risk
Policy Support	Backed by private sector, slow public approvals	Needs stronger institutional support

 

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