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Need to give farmers an alternative to Bt Cotton: Maharashtra-Snehlata Shrivastav

NAGPUR: Bt cotton may have taken almost 99% area under cotton cultivation in Maharashtra but, looking at the diminishing profit margins, the state government is planning to evolve other options to the genetically modified variety of the crop. The government feels it will reduce cultivation cost and increase profitability and sustainability of the crop for the farmer.

State agriculture minister Radhakrishan Vikhe-Patil has asked agriculture universities to develop alternatives to Bt cotton to make cotton a more profitable venture for farmers. But it will be sometime before the state agriculture universities (SAUs) come up with varieties that can compete with Bt cotton. Both, the Akola-based Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) and the Rahuri-based Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV) have been working on desi and straight varieties even before Bt cotton came up in 2000.

State agriculture commissioner Umakant Dangat told TOI that since the farmers took up Bt cotton the input costs in the form of fertilizers and pesticides have gone up manifold and it is no longer a sustainable crop, especially in the rain-fed or dry-land areas of the state like Vidarbha and Marathwada. "Despite cultivation of Bt cotton across the state, the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the crop have gone down. Compared to other states, Bt cotton yield continues to be minimum in Maharashtra whereas the cost of cultivation has been rising steadily. In fact, the cost in state is highest in the world. Hence, there is an urgent need to review performance of Bt cotton," said Dangat.

Emphasizing on alternatives to the genetically modified cotton, the agriculture commissioner said state's universities need to develop more varieties suited to different cotton growing districts. "The process is a long drawn one and no miracle is expected soon. But that should not deter researchers from working for the benefit of the farmers who suffer huge losses every year due to failure of the crop which is largely dependent on rains."

Vice chancellor of MPKV, TA More, who is also the acting VC for PDKV, told TOI that though it was only recently that the state government asked the universities to work on alternatives to Bt, they were already working towards developing varieties more suited to local conditions. "Till date, we only have verbal communication from the state government to develop alternatives. Though no date has been fixed, we will be soon conducting a state-level conference on BT cotton to hold discussions and chalk out newer possibilities," said More.

Director of Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Keshav Kranthi too admits the need for giving alternatives to farmers which are high yielding, low cost and profitable. "Entire Maharashta has gone under hybrid cotton which is not a good sign. Our soils are not suited for high input intensive hybrids and so there always have been a need for alternatives which would reduce farmers stress. And it is the job of the public sector to do this," said Kranthi.

CICR was already working towards developing extra long staple cotton for the region. In the next 2-3 years CICR will come out with good solutions. Already there are certain potential desi cotton varieties which need promotion among farmers.

'No complete ban being planned'

The state agriculture commissioner Umakant Dangat clarified that the state government was not contemplating a complete ban on Bt cotton. The issue of Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech (MMB) violating the licensing norms to produce seeds was a separate issue which is being looked into specifically by the state government.

"We will not hesitate to take any action against any company which is violating the norms and rules. Agriculture department is the licensing authority in production and sale of seeds. If any company does not abide by the rules law will take its own course of action," said Dangat.