Performance of Bt. Cotton Cultivation in Karnataka

Report of

State Department Of Agriculture

Two Bt. Cotton varieties namely MECH Bt 162 and MECH Bt 184 have been grown in an area of 5379 and 22 acres respectively in Karnataka during 2002-03. The Agriculture Department Officers, both at taluka and district level have closely monitored the Bt Cotton cultivation in their respectively jurisdiction. The reports received from the various districts indicate that:

(i) The cost of the Bt Cotton seeds is very high; it is almost 4-5 times higher than the normal hybrids.

(ii) Though the incidence of boll worm in Bt. Cotton is less compared to other hybrids, the regular Plant Protection Measures were necessary for other sucking insects. There is a fear that in future this condition may leads to emergence of other minor insects in to major ones.

(iii) Since Bt. cotton is being the medium staple length cotton, the market price fetched for Bt cotton is less than the long staple cotton variety such as DCM-32. This indicates that even though, there is slight increase in the total yield obtained from Bt. cotton, the over all returns is not much when we take in to account of the seed cost.

Under these circumstances the department feels that that the trials of Bt cotton should be continued at lease two more years to asses the performance of Bt cotton in Karnataka.

For Commissioner for Agriculture

Government of karnataka

PERFORMANCE OF Bt COTTON COTTON IN KARNATAKA DURING 2002-2003.

(SECOND REPORT DATED 11^TH June, 2003).

Bt. Cotton was grown in an area of 5401 acre. In Karnataka, during 2002 Kharif, Cotton Crop was sown very late during 2002-2003, owing to delay in onset of monsoon. Also the entire Kharif Crops including cotton was suffered from moisture stress at various stages of growth due to prolonged dry spell.

There was a wider degree of variation in yield obtained both in Bt. Cotton and other Hybrid Varieties. For example in Davanagere, Bt. Cotton has yielded 27.15 q/ha, whereas in Mysore it was just 8 q/ha.

The yield obtained from Bt. Cotton crops is less in Bellary and Raichur District when compared to other ruling hybrids, whereas in other districts, Bt. Cotton yields are more than other hybrids. Therefore there is no consistency in yield data. The Bt. Cotton has earned less market prices when compared to the prices of other hybrids since the variety used in Karnataka are of medium staple length.

Even after taking into account of slight increase in yields, because of the high seed cost the margin of profit is very less or some times equal.

Incidence of sucking pests was noticed both on Bt. and other hybrids this necessitating timely spraying on both the crops.

Under the above circumstances the department feels that the trials of Bt. Cotton should be continued two more years in the State before it is released for general cultivation.

PERORMANCE OF BT COTTON IN KARNATKA DURING 2002-2003.

S.No.	District	Yield Obtained in q/ha Bt. Other Hybrid		Market Prices in Rs/q Bt. Other Hybrid		Amount spent on P.P.Chemi Bt. Other Hybrid		Incidence of sucking pests Bt. Other Hybrid
1.	Mysore	8.00	4.00	2075	2500	-	-	Noticed	Noticed
2.	Davanagere	27.15	15.32	1900	2100	982	2565	-do-	-do-
3.	Haveri	18.50	13.72	1977	2104	1112	2637	More	-do-
4.	Gadag	12.50	10.75	2250	2275	735	2600	Noticed	-do-
5.	Belgaum	10.64	9.50	2030	2300	1170	2070	-do-	-do-
6.	Bellary	16.00	20.00	1900	2100	1250	5150	-do-	-do-
	Raichur	7.50	15.80	1700	1700	612	507	-do-	-do-
8.	Gulbarga	22.00	19.00	1780	1745	890	1350	-do-	-do-

For Commissioner for Agriculture

Government of karnataka