Bt Cotton

Bt cotton is a genetically modified variety of cotton producing an

insecticide. It is produced by Monsanto. It is supplied in India's
Maharashtra state by the agri-biotechnology company, Mahyco, as the
distributor. The bacterium Bacillus thureingiensis contains a gene named
cry1Ac which was incorporated into American cotton which was, in turn,
crossed with Indian cotton to introduce it into native varieties making it
resistant to bollworms. Bt cotton produces proteins harmful to bollworms,
making them lethargic, thereby minimising damage.

ADVANTAGES
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a family of over 200 different
proteins which naturally produce chemicals harmful to selective insects,
most notably the larvae of moths and butterflies, beetles, cotton
bollworms and flies, and harmless to other forms of life. The gene coding
for Bt toxin has been inserted into cotton, causing cotton to produce this
natural insecticide in its tissues.
In India, Bt cotton has been enveloped in controversies due to its
supposed links with seed monopolies and farmer suicides. However, the
link between the introduction of Bt Cotton to India and a surge in farmer
suicides has been refuted by other studies, with farmer suicides actually
having fallen since the introduction of Bt cotton according to some
studies. Bt cotton accounts for 93% of cotton grown in India.

DISADVANTAGES
However, Bt cotton is ineffective against many cotton pests such as plant
bugs, stink bugs, pink bollworms and aphids.
A 2006 study done the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy and the
Chinese Academy of Science on Bt cotton farming in China found that

after seven years these secondary pests that were normally controlled by
pesticide had increased, necessitating the use of pesticides at similar
levels to non-Bt cotton and causing less profit for farmers.
The use of Bt-Cotton in India has grown exponentially since its
introduction. Recently India has become the number one global exporter
of cotton and the second largest cotton producer in the world. However
Indias success has been subject to scrutiny. Monsanto's seeds are
expensive and lose vigour after one generation, prompting The Indian
Council of Agricultural Research to develop a cheaper Bt-Cotton variety
with seeds that could be reused, but the seeds were removed as they
showed lower yield. The state of Maharashtra has banned the sale and
distribution of Bt cotton in 2012, in order to promote local Indian seeds,
which demand less water, fertilizers and pesticide input.

Bt Cotton

Bollworms