Lok Sabha Question No. 387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Damage to Cotton Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, RAJESH VERMA, C.R. CHAUDHARY, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, RAVNEET SINGH, T. RADHAKRISHNAN

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.387

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  1 ST  DECEMBER, 2015

## DAMAGE TO COTTON CROPS

## 387.   SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether the farmers have suffered huge loss due to damage caused to cotton crop by the white fly pest in various parts of the country during the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the quantum of the losses and the incidents of suicide committed by cotton farmers in country, State-wise;
- (c) the  details  of  financial  package/compensation  announced  by  the  Government and given to the affected farmers;
- (d) whether there are reports of adverse impact on production and productivity of Bt cotton due to use of unlicensed Bt cotton seeds in certain parts of the country, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  the  interest  of  Bt. cotton growers and to prevent the pest attack on cotton crop?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) & (b): During  Kharif,  2015  whitefly  infestation  was  reported  in  cotton  crop especially  from  the  eight  cotton  growing  districts  of  Fazilka,  Bathinda,  Mansa,  Shri Muktsar  Sahib,  Sangrur,  Barnala,  Faridkot  and  Moga  in  Punjab.  As  per  the  figures provided  by  the  Punjab  State,  3.32  lakh  hectare  area  of  cotton  was  infested.  In Haryana,    special  gridwari  has  been  ordered  to  assess  the  losses  due  to  whitefly infestation. No major losses on this account was reported from any other cotton growing State in  the country from white fly attack.

No report of suicide committed by cotton grower has been reported by any State Government so far.

(c): As per the information given by the State Govt. of Punjab a sum of Rs. 643.58 crores have been released as compensation.

(d): As regard sale of spurious Bt cotton seed, few cases of supply of spurious Bt cotton seeds were reported by the States like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Details of complaints of supply of spurious Bt cotton seeds received from the State Governments for the last three years and action taken is at Annexure-I.

(e): Timely  advisories  were  issued  to  the  various  State  Governments  including Punjab  to  manage  the  whitefly  problem  in  Bt  cotton.  In  addition,  a  list  of  pesticides recommended by CIB & RC (Central Insecticide Board & Registration Committee) to manage whitefly in the cotton was also provided to the State Government .A special survey  was  conducted  by  the  Central  Team  in  association  with  State  Department Officers in the affected areas in Punjab & Haryana States. Senior officers of Department of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  welfare  visited  the  affected  areas  in  Punjab and Haryana to provide all necessary assistance in taking effective corrective steps.

## Annexure -I

## DETAILS OF COMPAINTS OF SUPPLY OF SPURIOUS BT. COTTON SEED RECEIVED BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND ACTION TAKEN

| Sl. No.   | Name of State   | Details of complaints                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Action Taken                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2014-15   | 2014-15         | 2014-15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 2014-15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Nil       | Nil             | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 2013-14   | 2013-14         | 2013-14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 2013-14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Nil       | Nil             | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Nil                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 1.        | Maharashtra     | Complaint received from 8 Farmers of Dhule, Nagpur and Wardha District regarding non- performance of Bt. cotton hybrid Turbo ABCH256; BG II produced and sold by M/s Monsanto Holding Pvt Ltd due to attack of pest and disease.                                 | Director of Agriculture (Input and Quality Control) order the company to pay Rs. 4.21 lakh to the affected farmers.                                                                                                                              |
| 2.        | Maharashtra     | Complaint received from 91 Farmers of Yavatmal District regarding non-performance of Bt. cotton hybrid Turbo ABCH256; BG II produced and sold by M/s Vergine Seeds Pvt Ltd due to attack of pest and disease.                                                    | Director of Agriculture (Input and Quality Control) order the company to pay Rs. 13,89,582 to the affected farmers.                                                                                                                              |
| 3.        | Andhra Pradesh  | Complaints were received from the farmers from Bayyavaram(V) of Krosur mandal regarding poor performance of seeds due to genetic purity and susceptible to pest and disease of Bt. cotton hybrid Mallika BG-II produced and sold by M/s Nuziveedu Seeds Pvt Ltd. | The District Level Compensation Committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Director of Agriculture conducted an investigation and awarded Rs. 6,31,800 as compensation as per the provision of AP Cotton Seeds Act, 2007 to the affected farmers. |
| 4.        | Andhra Pradesh  | Complaints were received from the farmers from Kanchikacheria mandal regarding poor performance of seeds due to genetic purity and susceptible to pest and disease of Bt. cotton hybrid Mahajhansi BG-II produced and sold by M/s Asian Agri Genetics Pvt Ltd.   | The District Level Compensation Committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Director of Agriculture conducted an investigation and awarded Rs. 4,73,760 as compensation as per the provision of AP Cotton Seeds Act, 2007 to the affected farmers  |

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