Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday questioned the efficacy of Bt cotton, as despite its adoption, the production of the fibre crop has declined due to a slew of issues, including the pink bollworm attack. He also asked the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to introspect why the country’s cotton production has dropped despite the release of several varieties.
Speaking at the Foundation Day event of ICAR, Chouhan raised several concerns that farmers have been raising before him and asked officials to address those issues. His views are on the heels of his comments at a Productive Meeting on cotton in Coimbatore on July 11.
At the meeting, Chouhan acknowledged the challenges in cotton production in India as India’s productivity lagged compared to other countries. The Bt cotton variety, once developed to increase yields, is now facing a threat from diseases, resulting in declining productivity, he said, adding that the country must take every possible step — just like other nations — to improve cotton productivity using modern technologies and by developing virus-resistant, high-yielding seeds.
