India, one of the earliest cotton-producing countries in the world, is facing a challenge – stagnant area, poor yields and increasing cost of production. The cotton sector, which supports 60 lakh farmers and supplies raw material to the textile industry, provides livelihood opportunities for over 10 crore people directly or indirectly.
This is happening despite widespread adoption of Bt cotton in India. Over two decades since its introduction in 2002, Bt cotton, which is “genetically modified for resistance to bollworms”, has seen rapid adoption by farmers. By 2014, it commanded over 95 per cent of India’s cotton cultivation area.
Bt cotton adoption soared from 50,000 hectares in 2002 to 8.4 million hectares by 2009, making India the world’s second-largest cotton producer and top exporter, while halving insecticide use and doubling yields.