Farmers income has risen due to Bt cotton cultivation: Sharad Pawar

NEW DELHI: Farmers income has increased on an average by Rs 10,000 per hectare following reduction in pesticide use and increase in yield due to cultivation of Bt cotton, Parliament was informed today.

Analysis of economic benefits show that farmers gained at least at an average of Rs 10,000 per hectare due to reduction in pesticide use and increase in yield because of prevention of bollworm damage as a result of cultivation of Bt cotton, Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He said studies conducted by Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) Nagpur showed that Bt cotton has been effective in controlling bollworms between 60-100 per cent.

Cultivation of Bt cotton has resulted in 90 per cent reduction in insecticide use for bollworm control.

The area under cultivation of Bt cotton in the country was 68.8 lakh hectares which went up to 80.55 lakh hectares in 2009-10 and 95.5 lakh hectares in 2010-11, Pawar said.

Increase in acreage under Bt cotton has been witnessed in all the major growing states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Pawar replied in negative about any reports that inspite of tests like bio-safety, environment safety, risk assessment test, Bt cotton is affecting the farmers adversely.

"No scientifically credible report has come to the notice of the department," he said.