The Hindu Business Line : N. India cotton growers facing double whammy — Old hybrids seen uneconomical; no Bt cotton this year too

COTTON growers in North India are facing a double whammy. The growers are reluctant to cultivate the hybrid varieties and they will also not be able to grow Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton this season.

"Bt cotton was tested for cultivation in North India but the results are not positive. Trials will have to be held again for growing it next year," according to Northern India Textile Mills' Association (NITMA) officials.

Bt cotton is a genetically-modified one that is claimed to withstand bollworm specifically. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) last year permitted its cultivation in the southern, western and central regions after successful trials. So far, only Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company's (Mahyco) Bt cotton has been permitted to be grown by farmers, while a few other companies expect to get the GEAC nod soon.

The cultivation of Bt cotton has given rise to controversy in that a section of farmers who have claimed that they have not reaped benefits from the GM variety.

Sowing in the northern regions of Punjab, Haryana and Ganganagar tracts in Rajasthan takes place during April-May.

``Leave aside Bt cotton. Farmers in the North are really undecided as to whether to go in for cultivation of any hybrid variety that is available,'' the officials said.

Currently, J-34 and F-414 (both of G. hirsutum family) and G-27 of the G. arboreum are being cultivated in the region.

``The hybrids in use now have all lost their potency. As a result, the farmers have been forced to increase their inputs such as fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides," Mr Sachit Jain, President, NITMA, told Business Line. "There is a rampant feeling among the growers in the North that the available varieties are uneconomical to cultivate."

North India, which until five years ago contributed to nearly one-third of the country's cotton production, has been witnessing a rapid decline in production over the last few years. "Farmers are taking to other crops such as bajra and rice," Mr Jain said.

This was reflected in fall in the area under cotton last year to 12.95 lakh hectares from 15.57 lakh hectares the previous year.

"It is not that new varieties are not available. The Punjab Agricultural University has come out with the new varieties but the Government is yet to de-notify the older varieties and recommend cultivation of the new ones," he said.

However, there is a problem in this. The Government recommends new seed varieties only when adequate quantity is available. "But, there is lack of resources to develop adequate stocks of the new varieties. Funds will have to be made available and it is a big question as to who will do it," Mr Jain said.

All these have made the growers reluctant to opt for cotton and North India may witness no increase in the area under cotton cultivation this year, according to him.

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