At a recent webinar on Bt cotton, four renowned Indian scientists presented facts and data which suggest that Bt cotton is a big cause of the spike in farmer suicides.
Following this webinar, scientists, farmers, and activists wrote a letter to the Indian government to stop the false narrative on the benefits of Bt cotton.
Bt cotton, the first genetically modified cotton seed, was legally allowed in India in 2002. One of the key points that emerged at the webinar said that out of 75 countries that grow cotton, India ranks 36th in yields.
Out of the 35 countries with higher yields, which have more than 50,000 hectares of cotton cultivation and are also ahead of India in yield, only eight countries use Bt cotton, while the rest don’t.
The participants also argued that the hike in cotton productivity was not due to Bt cotton, but from expansion in irrigated areas, heightened fertilizer use, and better agronomy.
“The letter points out that the biotechnology industry has a huge role in keeping up a false narrative around the increased productivity of Bt cotton,” Indian media reports informed.
“India is the highest consumer of chemical fertilizers or 360 grams per kg,” the letter states.
The letter noted that the real increase in Bt cotton productivity in India was between 2003 and 2005, while around 90 percent of the area was under non-Bt cotton in that period.
Bt cotton was introduced legally only in 2002, and after that, the acreage under it spiked sharply, however, the increase in subsequent years did not match those between 2003 and 2005.
“But chemical fertilizer consumption in cotton crop in India doubled from 96 kg per hectare in 2002 to 222 kg per hectare in 2011, which led to yield increases,” the letter informed.
The letter advised the government to promote native species of cotton .
“Cotton farmers should be encouraged to cultivate pure cotton seed varieties rather than Bt cotton as native cotton varieties offer higher yields in a high-density planting and have excellent fiber qualities,” the letter concluded by saying.
Stop false narrative on Bt cotton – Scientists tell Indian government
