Bt Cotton adoption in Punjab has resulted in net economic, environmental benefits: Study

Context: Bt cotton’s positive and negative impacts, a recent study titled ‘Long-term impact of Bt cotton: An empirical evidence from North India’ has said its adoption in Punjab in the past over a decade has resulted in net economic and environmental benefits. 

Bt Cotton in India 

Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton has been commercially grown in India for the past 19 years. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) approved the release of Bt cotton for commercial cultivation in 2002 in western and southern parts of the country.  

• In Punjab, Bt cotton was released for cultivation in 2005. Before the release, it was adopted by 72% farmers on 22% of the cotton area.  

What does the result show? 

• The results show that sucking insect pests have replaced bollworms as the key pests.  
• There has been a steep decline in insecticide applications to control bollworms, the target pest of Bt cotton, by 97%; however, this has been offset by an increase in the insecticide application by 154% to control sucking pests.  

• Moreover, the increase in pesticide use was driven by the use of fungicides, which were not applied in cotton earlier, and increased use of herbicides. 

• There has been an overall positive impact of Bt cotton on volume of insecticide active ingredients applied, insecticide applications, use of highly hazardous and riskiest insecticides, and resultant environmental impact of the field use of insecticides on cotton. 
• Yields have stabilized after the commercialization of Bt cotton. 

 Terms to know 

• Bt Cotton 

Source: The Hindu