In rain-fed areas, Indian cotton crop gives similar profit as BT cotton: Research

A study of smallholder farmers in Maharashtra has found that under rain-fed conditions, farmers growing traditional Indian cotton crop can obtain similar revenue and profit as farmers growing genetically modified American cotton (BT American cotton).

The research conducted by UK scientists, published in Nature Plants, found that farmers growing BT American cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) obtained slightly higher yields than farmers growing Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboreum), the native Indian variety. However, growing BT American cotton requires more expense on seeds, pesticides and fertilisers, as a result of which the profits generated by farmers ended up being similar to those generated by farmers growing Asiatic cotton.

The researchers have suggested that Asiatic cotton should be considered when farmers are deciding which cotton to grow under rain-fed conditions, which are predominant in India.

The research is set to initiate a fresh debate on genetically modified crops and energise the anti-GM lobby once again. Asiatic cotton was traditionally cultivated in India till the entry of BT cotton in 2002. BT cotton, at present, makes up 90% of the cotton grown in Maharashtra and even across India. Most farming in Maharashtra is dependent on rains due to skewed irrigation facilities. Even the average rainfall in the state in the past few years has been 70%.

Anti-BT activists and farmer activists have been questioning since long its safety and economic feasibility, arguing that the variety is costlier and more input-intensive, and therefore an undesirable burden on resource-poor farmers. These groups have also been seeking review from the state government on whether BT cotton is suitable in rain-fed or non-irrigated regions such as Vidarbha.

"While economic benefits of BT cotton in terms of yields, farmers' net revenue and reduction in pesticide cost are well-documented, it was unclear to what extent irrigation influences the performance of BT cotton, especially on smallholder farming in India, and if, in the absence of irrigation, growing BT provides greater economic benefits compared to traditional Asiatic cotton," states the paper, citing the reasons which prompted the study.

American BT cotton became popular as it was promoted as "far better" than the native variety. Its fibres are longer than Asiatic cotton fibres and better suited to existed textiles technology. As American cotton is very sensitive to insect and disease damage, it has been genetically modified to be more resistant to pests, including bollworms. The hybrid seeds also need to be bought every time, that too at almost 10-fold the cost compared to traditional seeds.

The data was collected by lead author Dr Carla Romeu-Dalmau, a James Martin fellow at Oxford University, from 51 smallholder farmers in Maharashtra. A comparison of input costs, yields and revenues suggests that while Asiatic cotton in the rain-fed area required an input cost ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 per acre, giving an average net revenue of Rs15,000 to Rs20,000, BT cotton cultivation required average input cost of Rs15,000-Rs20,000 per acre, giving an average net revenue of Rs15,000-Rs25,000.

Dalmau also found that farmers growing BT American cotton under irrigated conditions obtained higher yields than farmers growing the same under rain-fed conditions. However, higher yields did not translate into higher profits as they spent more to cultivate the cotton.

Director of Cotton Corporation of India MM Choklingam, however, rejected the findings of the study. "Though BT cotton requires higher input cost initially, the yield is far more than the traditional variety," he said.

Nonetheless, he appreciated the efforts of farmers growing the traditional variety. "Some traditional growers are using high density seed-sowing, maybe three to six times more plants per acre, and getting higher yields than before."