New Delhi (PTI): Due to improved yield and better control of pest-resistance, adoption of Bollgard II version of GM cotton has increased four-fold since its commercial launch in 2006 and area under cultivation has risen to 45 lakh.

Of 172 lakh acres of total Bt cotton, farmers cultivated Bollgard II in 45.1 lakh acres and Bollgard in 127.2 lakh acres during kharif 2007-08 season, said Mahyco Monsanto Biotech, a 50:50 joint venture between Maharashtra-based seed firm Mahyco and global seed giant Monsanto.

Farmers are shifting from Bollgard to Bollgard II as they need to spray pesticide once per season compared with Bollgard where it requires more than one spray. It is worse in case of traditional cotton, where farmers spray between six to 10 times per season.

Monsanto's Bollgard was the first genetically modified (GM) crop, which is popularly known as Bt cotton, to get regulatory approval for commercial cultivation in India in 2002.

According to data provided by Monsanto, the adoption of Bollgard II in Maharashtra-- the top cotton producing state-- was the highest at 21 lakh acres, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 8.4 lakh acres and Gujarat at 5.3 lakh acres.

The acceptance of Bollgard II is increasing in farmers as they realise that apart from protecting against bollworm attacks, Bollgard II also gives additional protection against spodoptera-- an army worm, Monsanto officials said.

On field visit to Mansa district in Punjab, a 40-year old cotton farmer Rajender Singh shared, "I have grown Bollgard II in three acres of land and saw better yield than Bollgard this year".

Bollgard II is priced at Rs 950 for 450 gram, while Bollgard is at Rs 750 for same quantity.