The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Farmers find Bt cotton profitable

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Saturday, Jan 26, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Farmers find Bt cotton profitable

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: A large number of farmers are cultivating Bt cotton in the State on account of the higher returns and reduction in pesticide use, according to a study.

The cultivation of Bt cotton has increased the profitability and net income of farmers. The net return has been Rs. 13,168 a hectare against Rs. 4,484 a hectare in non-hybrid variety crop. The reduction in pesticide use and the high yield made Bt cotton crop more profitable compared to the traditional cotton variety, according to the study conducted by University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The study sponsored by Monsanto, the multinational life sciences major, revealed that the average saving due to reduction in pesticide use was Rs. 3,094 a hectare in hybrid variety against non-Bt cotton yields. The Bt cotton output was significantly influenced by seeds, plant protection measures, labour and irrigation.

The study, which covered 180 farmers in Raichur, Mysore and Haveri districts, found that adoption of Bt cotton by large farmers (50 per cent) was higher than medium (33 per cent) and small (14 per cent) farmers. The major source of information to farmers about cultivation of Bt cotton was seed companies (36 per cent), input dealers/traders (31 per cent), and agricultural universities (30 per cent). As many as 45 hybrid varieties were available in the market now, L.B. Hugar, professor, Agricultural College, Raichur, told The Hindu. The use of spurious Bt cotton seeds was substantial during 2003-04 (45 per cent) and 2004-05 (47 per cent) as non-notified seeds were sold to farmers by unregistered agents.

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