Performance of Bt.

Cotton Cultivation in Maharashtra

Report of
State Department of Agriculture

India ranks third in global cotton production after USA and China. India accounts for
approximately 25 percent of world's total cotton area and 16 percent of global cotton
production. The per hectare yield of cotton in India is lowest with 300 kg per hectare against
world average of 580 kg per hectare. Pest and disease attack is one of the most important
factor affecting yield levels significantly. The loss due to it is to the tune of 13 to 15%. In
cotton the three most damaging lepidopteran species affecting the crop in India are
American Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella, and
Spotted Bollworm (Earias vittella). The number of insecticidal sprays undertaken by the
Indian cotton farmers for insect control range from 6 to 15 numbers per growing season, at
an average cost of Rs 5500 - 6000 per hectare. At present cotton covers just 5 percent of
gross cropped area but consumes 55 percent of the pesticides utilized in the country.

In Maharashtra cotton is cultivated in 27 districts out of which Bt. Cotton seeds were
distributed in 19 districts. 30485 packets (450 gm. Bt-cotton & 120 gm non Bt-cotton) of Bt-
cotton varieties MECH-12 Bt., MECH-162 Bt. and MECH-184 Bt. were marketed. The area
covered under Bt. cotton varieties is 12194 hectare.

In Maharashtra, for evaluation of Bt. cotton performance, a district level committee under
the chairmanship of District Superintending Agriculture Officer is formulated. A trainers
training was organized at Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur. The
proforma for evaluation was finalised and circulated by CICR, Nagpur. The performance of
Bt. cotton variety is compared with its non -Bt. counter part (i.e. refuge). The following
characters were studied.

1. Plant Height

2. No. of Squares

3. No. of flowers

4. No. of Green bolls

5. Jassids damage

6. Aphids damage

7. White fly damage

8. No. of Spudoptera larvae

9. No. of Helicoverpa larvae

10. No. of Pink Bo llworm larvae

11. No. of Spotted Bollworm larvae

The Bt. Cotton plants are less in height ,No. of squares, No. of flowers, No. of Bolls etc. are
more than non Bt. cotton. However No significant differences was observed. During Kharif
2002-2003 heavy infestation was not noticed on both Bt. and non -Bt. cotton varieties. On an
average 3 to 5 sprayings were given to both Bt. and Non -Bt. cotton. The attack of sucking
pest was reported on both Bt. and Non-Bt. cotton varieties. The percentage infestation is
between 5 to 8. There was a marginal difference in bollwarm infestation. It ranges between
5 to 7% in Bt. and 7 to 12% in non-Bt. varieties.

The Bollworm attack was reported on Bt. cotton crop at Anand Niketan College of
Agriculture, Warora farm. The Principal, Anand Niketan Collage of Agriculture, Warora has
suggested the need to carry out more research on quantity of ICP (Intestinal Crystal
Proteins) present in leaves, flowers and bolls, so that, larva will be killed within 24 hrs.

Many complaints about wilt infestation were received from Amravati and Yeotmal and
Nanded districts on Bt. cotton varieties. As per the report of CICR it was not a pathogenic
wilt but a physiological disorder i.e. characteristics of parawilt. As per the feed back of the
officers the Bt. cotton varieties are suspectible to wilt.

As this was the first year of Bt. cultivation and only 39000 packets were available for
Maharashtra only the innovators have tried it. The packets are allotted to only a group of
selected farmers.

The comparison between Bt. and its non Bt. counterpart about yield it reangaes between
16.30 to 60.07% but as per the feedback of the officers the performance of Bt. cotton as
compared with other popular hybrids varieties like NCS-145 (Bunny) Ankur 651, Brahma,
Paras etc. is not satisfactory. These non Bt. varieties yield better than the Bt. Varieties.

The Cost of the Bt. Cotton seed is also a major point of consideration. The Cost fixed by
Mahyco is Rs. 1600/- packet which cannot be a justifiable cost

Purpose of Survey

As Kharif 2002 -2003 is the first year of the Commercial release of Bt. cotton hybrids:

1. To analyse the performance of Bt. cotton hybrids.

2. To study the farmers reactions about Bt. cotton cultivation.

Material and Methods

A trainers training was organized at CICR, Nagpur on 2nd July, 2002. A district level
committee under the Chairmanship of District Superintending Agriculture Officer is
constituted. The committee is instructed to take one inspection per month. From every
district , few villages have been selected. 10% of the farmers cultivating Bt. cotton were
selected randomly form every village. From each plot 10 plants are selected randomly and
selected plants were tagged. The observations are recorded on these selected plants.

Cotton Scenario in Maharashtra

Maharashtra is the largest cotton growing State in the country. It covers about 34% of total
cotton area and contributes 17% of the production. Maharashtra produces approximately 25
lakh bales per year. Main features of cotton cultivation in Maharashtra are as below.

1. About 97% of the cotton crop is cultivated under rainfed condition.

2. The cotton is mostly grown on soils, which are black in colour and called as black
cotton soil. The black colour of the soil is due to presence of titanium oxide.

3. In Maharashtra two species of cotton viz G. hirsutum and G. arboreum are

cultivated, besides hybrids. Mostly intrahirsutum hybrids are grown.

4. The yield level of seed cotton is very poor.

5. Most of the cotton varieties and hybrids grown in this State process medium and
medium long fiber.

6. The cotton crop is grown in the Kharif season and sowing is generally done with
onset of Monsoon.

7. The hybrids cotton covers about 73% of cotton area in the State; about 11% area is
covered by improved hrisutum varietie s and 16% by arboreum cultivars.

Cotton crop is grown in the entire State except Konkan and eastern Maharashtra. However,
the cotton growing area of Maharashtra is divided into four major regions.

(i) Vidarbha region: Yeotmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Wardha &
Nagpur districts

(ii) Marath wada region: Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Aurangabad, Jalna & Beed districts.

(iii) Khandesh region: Jalgaon, Dhule & Nandurbar districts

(iv) Deccan canal region: A. Nagar & Satara districts

The average productivity of cotton in the State is 155 kg lint per ha as against 357 kg in
Andhra Pradesh, 452 kg in Punjab , 399 kg in Haryana and 274 kg in Karnataka.

The area wise production and productivity since 1994 -95 to 2001 -2002 and estimated
targets of area productio n and productivity for 2002-2003 is as below:

S. No. Year Area Production Productivity

(Lakh ha) (Lakh bales) (Kg lint/ha)
1. 1995-96 30.85 29.94 165
2. 1996-97 30.85 31.43 173
3. 1997-98 31.39 17.53 95
4. 1998-99 31.99 26.18 137
5. 1999-2000 32.54 31.26 163
6. 2000-2001 27.93 14.57 89
7. 2001-2002 30.00 27.98 158
8. 2002-2003 (T) 26.17 (T) 19.22 (T) 125 (T)

The main reason for low productivity of cotton on Maharashtra is its large scale rain-fed
cultivation (97%)
 Bt. Cotton cultivation and its evaluation

The information about total Bt. cotton seed packets distributed and district-wise area
covered under Bt. cotton is as under.

S. No. Name of the District Bt. cotton packets Area Covered (Ha)
distributed (No.)
1. Jalgaon 1,964 785.6
2. Dhule 4,132 1,652.8
3. Nandurbar 1,650 660 .0
Nasik Division 7,746 3,098.4
4. Aurangabad 2,828 1,131.2
5. Jalna 2 ,018 807.2
6. Beed 593 237.2
Aurangabad Division 5,439 2,175.6
7. Parbhani / Hongoli 3,153 1,261.2
8. Nanded 3,194 1,277.6
9. Latur 30 12.0
Latur Division 6,377 2,550.8
10. Akola / Washim 1,006 402.4
11. Amravati 1,090 436 .0
12. Buldhana 1,410 564 .0
13. Yotmal 5,068 2,027.2
Amravati Divisio n 8,574 3,429.6
14. Wardha 836 334.4
15. Nagpur 732 292.8
16. Chandrapur 748 299.2
Nagpur Division 2,316 926.4
17. Others 33 13.2
Maharashtra Total 30,485 12,194

As such 30485 packets of Bt. cotton were sown on 12194 ha area in Maharashtra. At the
start of Kharif 2002-2003 a one day work-shop was organized on 4 th May, 2002 at Mahyco
Research Centre Dawalwadi. Hon'ble District Collectors, Divisional Joint Directors, District
Superintendent Agriculture Officer, Agriculture Development Officer, District Medical Officer
and Div isional Technical Officer (Quality Control) of Cotton growing districts of Maharashtra
were invited.

Commissionerate of Agriculture has been conducting field evaluation report of the standing
crop on different characters to study usefulness of the technolo gy.

The detailed training on package of practices and instructions regarding preparation of

report was given in the training. The guidelines were also issued.

A trainers training programme was organized at Central Institute of Cotton research, Nagpur
fo r training the trainers for taking field observation of Bt. cotton crop in every district. The
trainers were instructed to conduct field level trainings. A district level committee was
established at each district to prepare evaluation report. The members of the committee
were as below.

1. District Superintending Agriculture Officer Chairman

2. Officers who has attended training at CICR Member

3. Agriculture Development Officer Member

4. Sub -divisional Agriculture Officer Member

5. University Expert Member

6. Taluka Agriculture Officer Member

The observations on 904 p lots were recorded through out Maharashtra.

Division-wise area under Bt. cotton and observations taken are as below:

S. No. Division Area under Bt. cotton Obse rvations recorded

in ha.
1. Nagpur 926.40 139
2. Amravati 3429.60 217
3. Aurangabad 2175.60 210
4. Latur 2550.80 188
5. Nasik 3098.40 150
6. Others 13.20 ---
Total 12194.00 904

As per the directives of the CICR the observations are recorded on Bt. Cotton plants and its
non Bt. Counter part. The results are based on these observations. The Committee was also
instructed to compare the performance of Bt. cotton varieties with most popular hybrids
varieties in the locality.

The highlights of the reports are as below.

1. Physical characters: The Bt. Cotton plants are less in height/ No. of squares,
No. of flowers, No. of Bolls etc. are more than non Bt. cotton.

2. Disease and pest incidence: During Kharif 2002-2003 no heavy infestation

was noticed on both Bt. and non -Bt. cotton varieties. On an overage 3 to 4 spraying were
given to both Bt. & Non Bt. Cotton varieties. No heavy infestation of bollworm was noticed.

a. Sucking Pests: The attack of sucking pests was reported on both Bt. & Non
Bt. cotton varieties.

(i) Aphids and Jassid: On an average 5 to 10 % infestation was reported on both Bt.
& Non Bt. Cotton varieties.

(ii) Thrips: On an average 3 to 5% infestation was reported on both Bt. & Non Bt. Cotton
varieties.

(iii) White fly: On an average 5 to 8% infestation was reported on Bt. & Non Bt.
cotton varieties

b. Bollworm:
(i) Till August, 2002 no infestation of bollworm was reported.

(ii) During September, October and November, 2002 infestation was reported on both
Bt. and Non Bt. cotton. The level of infestation was marginally more in non Bt. cotton
varieties (7 to 12%) than Bt. cotton varieties (5 to 7%). The number of larvae per plant
observed on both Bt. & Non Bt. cotton varieties are as below.

S. No. Name of Bollworm Average No. of larvae / Plant

Bt. cotton Non - Bt. cotton
varieties varieties
1. American Bollworm 1.5 to 2.5 2 to 3.5
2. Spotted Bollworm 0.1 to 0.5 0.1 to 0.5
3. Pink Bollworm 0.07 to 0.1 0.22 to 0.30

The Bollworm attack was reported on Bt. cotton crop at Anand Niketan College of
Agriculture, Warora farm. The principal, Anand Niketan College of Agriculture, Warora has
suggested the need to carry out more research on quantity of ICP (Intestinal Crystal
Proteins) present in leaves. Flowers and bolls, so that, larvae will be killed within 24 hrs. As
per the report of CICR committee the attack of bollworm is reported at Anandvan College of
Agriculture farm. But the attack was below ETL (Economic Threshold Level)

C. Wilting

Many Complaints about Susceptibility of wilting were received from Amravati, Yeotmal and
Nanded district on Bt. cotton varieties. As per the report of C ICR it was not a pathogenic wilt
and is not caused by fungi, bacteria or viruses. The wilting is a characteristic of parawilt and
is a physiological disorder which normally occurs when the cotton hybrids in the field are
exposed to prolong dry spell followed by heavy showers.

3. Yield: The picking-wise yield observations recorded on Bt. cotton and its non-Bt.
cotton part are as below:

Bt. Cotton

S. Division First Second Third Fourth Total

No. picking picking picking picking Yield (Kg.
(Kg. / (Kg. / (Kg. / (Kg. / / ha.)
ha.) ha.) ha.) ha.)
1. Nagpur 237.1 390.07 342.14 233.96 1,212.23
2. Amravati 430.4 255.6 166.74 --- 852.74
3. Aurangabad 348.1 562.32 458.03 292.83 1,736.34
4. Latur 240.63 305.5 229.38 118 .00 888.5
5. Nasik 262.73 525.19 707.31 689.46 2,184.69
Total 1,618.96 2,038.68 2,003.06 1,337.25 6,874.5
Average 323.79 407.74 400.72 266.85 1,374.9
Non-Bt. Cotton

S. Division First Second Third Fourth Total %

No picking picking picking picking Yield (Kg increase
(Kg / ha) (Kg / ha ) (Kg / ha) (Kg / ha)
/ha)
1. Nagpur 159.3 201.80 265.18 100.1 876.28 27.71
2. Amravati 285.47 178.42 142.73 107.06 713.68 16.3 0
3. Aurangaba 238.01 385.99 376.36 187.84 1,193.89 30.57
d
4. Latur 177.75 209.38 161.25 77.25 625.63 29.57
5. Nasik 168.65 339.85 427.38 376.42 1,312.31 60.07
Total 1,028.78 1,315.44 1,372.90 848.67 4,721.49 164.22
Average 205.76 263.09 274.58 169.73 944.3 32.84

From the above observations it is clear that the percentage yield increase of Bt. over it's
counter part ranges between 16 to 60%.

As per the feed back of the field level officers all though the performance of Bt. over its non
Bt. Counter parts are better, but its performance, as compared with other popular non Bt.
hybrids like (NCS - 145) (Bunny) Ankur 651, Paras, Brahma, is not better.

The feedback received from most of the farmers of the state is as follows:

(i) The average boll weight of Mahyco Bt. Cotton Varieties is 300 gm / 100 bolls i.e. 3
gm / boll which is very less as compared with other non Bt. popular hybrids which is 550 to
600 gm / 100 bolls.

(ii) The staple length of the Bt. cotton varieties is also short and hence it fetches fewer
prices in market compared with other popular hybrids.

(iii) The Bt. cotton varieties show more susceptibility to wilting under heavy rains
compared to other popular varieties.

(iv) There should also be a mechanism to control the cost of B. T. Cotton Seeds. In this
particular year the cost of only 450 gm Packet of B.T. Cotton seeds of Mahyco is Rs 1600/-
which is not justifiable ni any case. In the initial years the Government should control the
cost of the seeds.

ISSUES RELATED TO USE OF B. T.

The use of genetic engineering and the G. M. plants comes under Environment Protection
Act and the rules and orders made there under. Under Seeds Act, 1966, seeds Rules, 1968
and Seeds Control Order, 1983 the use of Genetically modified crops varieties is not
considered. To monitor this in the State:

1. The central Government should notify the minimum standards and also the methods
of testing the seeds in notified laboratories.

2. The inspectors should be appointed and the duties and powers should be specified.
3. The strict provisions should be made against the sellers of spurious or fake seeds
and F2 seeds of G. M. Crops.

For Commissioner of Agriculture

Government of Maharashtra