'Bt cotton has improved farmers' lives'

At the same time genetically modified cotton has increased fertilizer and water usage, resulting in high input costs, says study funded by farmers' outfit
'Bt cotton has improved farmers' lives'
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A study conducted by the Council for Social Development (CSD) on Bt cotton, titled Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Bt cotton in India, has concluded that the genetically modified cotton has improved farmers' lives with its better yields and higher returns. The nation-wide study by the informal study group of social scientists and social workers was funded by farmers’ outfit Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS) and was released in Delhi on Thursday.

The study states that enhanced yield of cotton by 4.95 per cent has led to a substantial increase in average net returns of farmers by 375 per cent. These higher returns, in turn, have enabled farmers to spend more on health, education, nutritious food and social needs, which has improved their standard of living, the report says. A report by Down to Earth had, however, found that cotton productivity in the country has become stagnant for the past few years after the initial gains that were reported. The Bt technology, first developed by Monsanto company in 1986, came to India in 2002 when the American seed giant entered into an agreement with its Indian partner, Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company or Mahyco.
 

Key Findings of report
 
•  84 per cent farmers say that quantity of seed usage per hectare is less in Bt Cotton than used in Non-Bt cotton.

•  Labour is the highest input cost—53 per cent of overall cost of Bt cotton cultivation. This is followed by fertilizers, 10.84 per cent, seed, 9.61 per cent, and mechanization 8.86 per cent.

•  Average net returns from hybrid Bt cotton seeds increased by 375 per cent from pre-Bt cotton period

•  Production and yield increased at a steady growth rate of 9.25 per cent and 4.95 per cent, respectively.

•  Growth rate of cotton area increased by 4.1 per cent in the last 10 years

•  76 per cent and 71 per cent of farmers reduced quantity and expenditure on pesticide usage respectively with Bt cotton seeds
 
Note of caution
Major reasons for farm suicides
 
•  Poor institutional credit

•  Lack of irrigation facilities in rain-fed areas

•  Fluctuating prices for cotton crop

•  Faulty export policies of the Government of India
 

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