Lok Sabha Question No. 1335 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Bt. Cotton
Ministry: AGRICULTURE
Asked by: R.P. MARUTHARAJAA, KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

#### 1 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

**LOK SABHA**

#### 2 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1335

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/07/2015

**BT. COTTON**

1335.	SHRI R.P. MARUTHARAJAA:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE **d`f"k ea=h**

be pleased to state:

(a)	 whether the Government has conducted any study on the adverse impact of GM crops on eco-system and if so, the details thereof;

(b) 	the details of production and area under cultivation of Bt. cotton during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and

(c) 	the measures taken by the Government to improve agricultural production in drought affected and less fertile land?

**A N S W E R**

### 1 

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

**d`f”k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h**

**(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)**

(a)	Yes, Madam. A two year study on feeding goats with Bt cotton leaves during 2007-09 and field trials with GM cotton did not reveal any adverse effect on overall health of animals, insect predators, parasitoids and soil microbial diversity.

(b)	The details of total area and production under Bt cotton cultivation in different states are provided in **Annexure I** and **II** .

(c)	High Density Planting Systems (HDPS) technology with semi-compact, early maturing cotton varieties like AKH 081 (PKV 081), NH 615, Suraj, Anjali, KC3 ( *G. hirsutum* ) and AKA7, JK5, HD123 ( *G. arboreum* ) have been developed for realizing  high yield in marginal soil and rainfed region, especially in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. The Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur in collaboration with Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad and National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Nagpur has prepared ‘Cotton Action Plan 2014’ encompassing good cotton growing practices recommended for different cotton growing states in the country.

The technologies for drought affected and less fertile land such as soil and water conservation, micro-irrigation, efficient rain water harvesting, specific crop planning including intercropping, farming systems, green manuring, integrated nutrient and pest management are being  demonstrated and disseminated through National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture in 130 villages of the most vulnerable districts of the country. Multilingual district wise weekly advisories are being issued for maintenance of healthy crop to realize high yields.

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**Annexure I**

**[Part (b) of Lok Sabha USQ No.1335 for 28/07/2015]**

**State-wise Bt. cotton area in lakh hectares**

| **State**           | **2011-12**   | **2012-13**   | **2013-14**   | **2014-15**   |
|---------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | 18.26         | 22.35         | 22.49         | 7.12          |
| Gujarat             | 26.78         | 21.85         | 25.68         | 27.13         |
| Haryana             | 5.88          | 5.73          | 5.38          | 6.31          |
| Karnataka           | 4.60          | 3.88          | 5.76          | 7.70          |
| Madhya Pradesh      | 6.35          | 5.38          | 5.69          | 5.50          |
| Maharashtra         | 38.95         | 38.15         | 36.87         | 40.10         |
| Punjab              | 5.46          | 4.07          | 4.97          | 4.30          |
| Rajasthan           | 4.00          | 3.15          | 2.38          | 3.95          |
| Tamil Nadu          | 1.06          | 0.87          | 1.13          | 1.07          |
| **Total Bt. area**  | **111.34**    | **105.43**    | **110.35**    | **103.18**    |
| **All India total** | **121.78**    | **119.78**    | **119.60**    | **129.94**    |

**Annexure-II**

**[Part (b) of Lok Sabha USQ No.1335 for 28/07/2015]**

**State-wise production of cotton in lakh bales**

| **State**           | **2011-12**   | **2012-13**   | **2013-14**   | **2014-15**   |
|---------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | 49.00         | 73.50         | 69.56         | 66.41         |
| Gujarat             | 120.00        | 88.50         | 101.50        | 110.89        |
| Haryana             | 26.50         | 25.00         | 23.02         | 23.00         |
| Karnataka           | 12.00         | 12.55         | 18.75         | 20.00         |
| Madhya Pradesh      | 20.00         | 22.00         | 17.30         | 17.50         |
| Maharashtra         | 72.00         | 76.55         | 88.34         | 68.20         |
| Odisha              | 3.25          | 4.00          | 2.99          | 4.00          |
| Punjab              | 23.00         | 20.00         | 19.68         | 18.52         |
| Rajasthan           | 13.35         | 14.00         | 12.87         | 16.00         |
| Tamil Nadu          | 4.50          | 5.00          | 4.08          | 7.86          |
| Others              | 8.40          | 1.10          | 0.93          | 0.90          |
| **All India total** | **352.00**    | **342.20**    | **359.02**    | **353.28**    |

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