Lok Sabha Question No. 5246 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Production of Bt. Cotton
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD, BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL

O.I.H.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5246

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## PRODUCTION OF BT. COTTON

5246.     SHRI KIRTI AZAD: DR. BHARATIBEN D. SHYAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantum of production of traditional cotton vis-a-vis Bt. Cotton during each of the last three years and the current year, State and year-wise;
- (b) whether there has been any rise in production of Bt. cotton vis-à-vis traditional cotton;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/proposed  to be  taken by  the  Government  for  promoting cultivation of Bt. cotton?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) to (c): There  is  no  segregated  data  available  for  production  of  Bt.  cotton. However, the average area under cultivation of Bt. cotton during  2014-15 to  2017-18 was around 86%. The details of production of cotton from 2014-15 to 2017-18, State and year-wise is given at Annexure.
- (d): Government  through  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  provides technological backstopping for promoting cultivation of cotton, including Bt. cotton. To promote the cultivation of Bt. cotton, following measures have been taken:

-  in collaboration with centres of All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) on Cotton, ICAR has developed and evaluated several Bt cotton varieties and 8 of them were approved for commercial cultivation in 2017 and are made available to the farmers at reduced cost.
-  During  the  last  few  years,  ICAR  and  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs)  of Punjab,  Haryana  and  Rajasthan  have  evaluated,  shortlisted  and  helped  state Governments to approve Bt hybrids which are relatively tolerant to whitefly and/ or cotton leaf curl virus.

Further,  the  Government  has  approved  Crop  Development  Programme  on Cotton, for enhancing production and productivity under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-CC)  w.e.f.  2014-15.  Under  this  scheme  thrust  has  been  given  on  transfer  of technology through frontline demonstrations and training in order to extend benefits to the farmers.

## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5246 due for reply on 27.03.2018

## Production of Cotton from 2014-15 to 2017-18

| STATES         | Production ( '000 Bales of 170 Kgs. each)   | Production ( '000 Bales of 170 Kgs. each)   | Production ( '000 Bales of 170 Kgs. each)   | Production ( '000 Bales of 170 Kgs. each)   |
|----------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| STATES         | 2014-15                                     | 2015-16                                     | 2016-17                                     | 2017-18*                                    |
| Andhra Pradesh | 2841.0                                      | 1888.0                                      | 1564.0                                      | 1956.0                                      |
| Gujarat        | 10500.0                                     | 9400.0                                      | 8575.0                                      | 12746.0                                     |
| Haryana        | 2300.0                                      | 993.0                                       | 2041.0                                      | 2000.0                                      |
| Karnataka      | 2311.0                                      | 2000.0                                      | 1010.0                                      | 1090.0                                      |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1750.0                                      | 1800.0                                      | 2050.7                                      | 1869.0                                      |
| Maharashtra    | 7000.0                                      | 7500.0                                      | 10618.8                                     | 6049.0                                      |
| Odisha         | 400.0                                       | 300.0                                       | 382.0                                       | 420.0                                       |
| Punjab         | 1600.0                                      | 750.0                                       | 1031.0                                      | 1182.0                                      |
| Rajasthan      | 1527.0                                      | 1214.0                                      | 1401.9                                      | 1728.0                                      |
| Tamil Nadu     | 686.0                                       | 369.0                                       | 359.0                                       | 439.0                                       |
| Telangana      | 3800.0                                      | 3661.0                                      | 3444.0                                      | 4332.0                                      |
| Others         | 90.0                                        | 130.0                                       | 100.0                                       | 104.1                                       |
| All India      | 34805.0                                     | 30005.0                                     | 32577.4                                     | 33915.1                                     |

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