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Benefits of transgenic cotton

A recent study conducted by Dr Clive James, chairman of Philippines-based ISAAA, has confirmed that global area of transgenic crops has been on the rise, even as controversies are doing rounds in some parts of the world as regards their acceptance. According to the report, since 1996, 13 million hectares of Bt cotton have been successfully deployed in nine countries -- seven developing and two industrial. Countries that have introduced Bt cotton have derived multiple benefits, from increased yield to decreased production cost. There has been a reduction of at least 50 per cent in insecticide applications, resulting in substantial environmental benefits to small producers, and significant economic and social benefits. The major benefit has been the decrease in the number of insecticide sprays per season, which in turn reduced insecticide residues that could potentially runoff into watersheds and aquifers. In the US, in 2001 economic gain from Bt cotton was $ 50 per hectare and $ 100 million nationally. In China, economic gain from Bt cotton was $ 500 per hectare with a national benefit of $ 750 million.

According to the ISAAA report, in China in 2001 over 4 million resource-poor cotton farmers as well as several thousands in the Makhathini Flats in South Africa derived significant economic benefits from Bt cotton, supporting the 2001 UNDP Human Development Report thesis that biotechnology can contribute to the alleviation of poverty. Bt cotton significantly increases income and saves time, which is particularly valuable for small resource-poor Bt cotton farmers in developing countries.

Bt cotton occupies 4 million hectares today but has the potential to deliver significant benefits to at least half of the world’s 33.5 million hectares of cotton with medium to high insect pest levels. With optimal deployment of Bt cotton, the projected annual insecticide saving is estimated at 33,000 MT (a.i) equivalent to 37 per cent of the 81,200 MT (a.i.) of cotton insecticides used globally in 2001. Experience to date in several developing countries has clearly demonstrated that Bt cotton can deliver significant economic, environmental and social benefits on millions of resource-poor farmers that are assigned high priority by the donor community. It is important that these smaller cotton-growing countries with resource-poor cotton farmers are offered the option of commercial access to Bt cotton so that they are not disadvantaged by being denied the significant benefits that accrue to adopters of the technology. The case for providing more developing countries the option of sharing in the substantial environmental, economic and social benefits delivered by Bt cotton to millions of resource-poor cotton farmers in developing countries on millions of hectares over the last six years, represents a challenge for both the donor community and the developing countries which are the potential beneficiaries. In this context, India can set an example that could be emulated by others in the world. Apart from various aspects, in order to make the technology fully acceptable, there is need to ensure that benefits accruing reach the farmers.