Bt cotton Backlash- A reality to face in the coming years
Yesterday, I got a telephonic call from my relative, Mr Narayan who resides in the remote village in Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh. Narayan is an educated intelligent farmer, about 35 years old, who knows more economics of crop cultivation than I do. He told me that from next year onward, he is going to sow non-Bt local cotton varieties in his fields. He is the same guy who used to ask me for sources of Bt cotton seeds which were at one time in short supply and were sold in black market during early years of Bt cotton commercialization in the country. Some years ago, I argued with one of the leading farmers from Akola who told me that Bt cotton is not performing as well. I am a votary of Bt cotton (and eventually Bt or GM technology) because it is hard core science that has solved bollworm problem when the American bollworm was a menace before 2002. This key pest feeds on bolls causing direct loss of crop yields. It used to damage crop regularly and was in outbreak form almost e