Lok Sabha Question No. 1479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-03
Subject: Pest Attack in Bt. Cotton Crop
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DUSHYANT CHAUTALA, KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1479

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MAY, 2016

## PEST ATTACK IN BT. COTTON CROP

## 1479.  SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA: SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  pink  bollworm  pest  attack  in  Bt.  cotton  crop  is  reported  in  the  cotton growing States in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether the  Government has  suggested  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research (ICAR) to conduct study on such pest attack so as to keep a check on spread of this pest and find a solution to control the situation and if so, the details thereof and the response of the ICAR in this regard;
- (d) whether the Technology Mission on Cotton has been launched at a cost of 600 crore last year for promoting cotton farming in the country and if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review/reform  the  mission  to  make  it  more effective and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  MOHANBHAI  KUNDARIYA)

- (a) & (b): During kharif 2015, pink bollworm attack was reported from Saurashtra region of Gujarat, parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
- (c): The  Government  through  Genetic  Engineering  Appraisal  Committee  (GEAC)  of Ministry  of  Environment  and  Forests  had  suggested  that  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  should  monitor  bollworm  resistance  to  Bt  cotton  and  develop  insect resistance  mechanism  (IRM)  strategies.  As  a  result  Insect  Resistance  Mechanism  (IRM) strategies  have  been  formulated  by  ICAR-  Central  Institute  for  Cotton  Research  (CICR), Nagpur and are being disseminated across the country since past 15 years under the IRM Project.

(d) & (e): The Government of India had launched Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC) during 2000-01 with an aim to improve the production, productivity and quality of Indian cotton in  the  country  and  to  strengthen  the  raw  material  base  for  cotton  textile.  It  consists  of  the following four Mini Missions:

| Mission                   | Objective                                                              |
|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Mini Mission I (MM-I)     | Generation of Cotton Research and Technology                           |
| Mini Mission II (MM-II)   | Transfer of Technology and Development                                 |
| Mini Mission III (MM-III) | Development of Market Yards                                            |
| Mini Mission IV (MM-IV)   | Modernization and Up-gradation of Ginning and Pressing (G&P) Factories |

MM-I has been discontinued, but the research and development activities continue to be  undertaken  by  ICAR.  The  MM-II  has  been  subsumed  under  National  Food  Security Mission  (NFSM)  -  Commercial  crops  w.e.f.  2014-15.  The  MM-III  &  MM-IV  ceased  to  be  in operation from 31 st December 2010.

********