By IANS
New Delhi : Acreage under the Bt cotton hybrid variety of seeds is likely to go up to 3.5 million hectares by the end of this year, says a study.
"The acreage under Bt cotton in the country is expected to rise up to 3.5 million hectares by the end of this year," said the study, "BT Cotton Farming in India" by leading industry body the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
The study, based on the latest survey of 5,981 farmers from 37 districts and 1,793 other conventional cotton farmers in nine cotton-growing states, also said the way cotton cultivation was moving, the government would have to increase its usage for the benefit of farmers.
"The area under Bt cotton across states has increased tremendously ranging from 32 times in Karnataka to over 200 times in Madhya Pradesh in just four years time," the study stressed.
The study highlighted that farmers who used Bt cotton earned an additional Rs.70.39 billion in income, based on 8.77 million acreage penetration achieved during this crop season.
"This increase in acreage and number of farmers adopting Bt is a testament to the continuing success and acceptance of the technology in India," Assocham said.
The chamber also emphasised that the impact of Bt farming on members of a Bt household was found to have been positive on many fronts, especially for women and children. Women belonging to Bt households availed of maternal care services in larger numbers than those belonging to non-Bt households.
Likewise, children belonging to Bt predominant households were found to have higher levels of immunisation.
In terms of economic infrastructure and economic activity, Bt villages were found to be much ahead when compared with non-Bt areas in terms of the presence of permanent markets, greater penetration of shops, banking, telecom and the Internet.
The usage of Bt cotton has been widely criticised in India by scientists, academicians and environmentalists who say these genetically modified seeds have a devastating social and environmental impact.
"The acreage under Bt Cotton would increase because there is no choice left with the farmers. The companies promoting Bt cotton are aggressively campaigning their product so much that the farmers are left with no choice, their choice has been completely destroyed," said Vandana Shiva, renowned Indian environmental campaigner.