University Report Cites Benefits of Bt cotton to Indian Farmers
ISAAA
August 24, 2007
A 170 page- report on the "Economics of Bt cotton vis-à-vis traditional cotton varieties (Study in Andhra Pradesh)" by the Agro-Economic Research Centre of the Andhra University in India concludes that Bt farmers earned three times more than non-Bt cotton farmers in Guntur district and eight times more in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. The Government of Andhra Pradesh commissioned the study three years ago to examine the advantages, disadvantages, cost of cultivation and net return to Bt cotton as compared to other cotton varieties in selected districts.
The study confirmed that the average Bt farmer had a 46 per cent higher yield and applied 55 per cent less pesticides than the non-Bt cotton farmer in Guntur district. Bt cotton farmers in Warangal district applied 16 per cent less pesticides and reaped 47 per cent more cotton yield as compared to non-Bt farmers Farmers noted that Bt cotton gave early high picking rate due to less pest susceptibility and boll color was also good.
Economics of Bt Cotton vis-a-vis Traditional Cotton Varieties in Andhra Pradesh
| Items | Guntur District | Warangal District | ||
| Bt Cotton | Non-Bt Cotton | Bt Cotton | Non-Bt Cotton | |
| Yield (Kg per hectare) | 3341 | 2290 | 2380 | 1623 |
| Gross income (US$ per hectare) | 1273.50 | 896.60 | 929.30 | 621.50 |
| Total Cost (US$ per hectare) | 686.70 | 695.30 | 760.70 | 643.40 |
| Net Income (US$ per hectare) | 586.80 | 168.60 | (- 21.90) | |
(Average exchange rate in 2006: Rupee 45 per US$)
For a copy of the report, contact Prof. LK Mohan Rao, Honorary Director, Agro-Economic Research Centre (AERC), Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. More information regarding biotech in India from Bhagirath Choudhary at b.choudhary@isaaa.org.
Source: ISAAA.
