Fluffy revolution

EDITORIAL

It was ultimately the users of genetically modified cotton who would decide the success or failure of what has been dubbed as ‘Frankenstein’s seeds’. Despite the uproar by activists, and strong campaign by non-governmental organisations, the test was to be whether it would be beneficial to farmers. And whether they would come back to sow the seeds again after the first harvest. For several years now, Bt cotton farmers have overwhelmingly shown that they care two hoots for the protestors. Despite doomsday scenarios painted by some well-known opponents of hybrid varieties, Bt cotton has spread to around 80 per cent of the fields in seven producing states. Had the seeds impoverished the farmers, as claimed by these activists, would they have adopted it so readily? Numbers often are answers to irrational opposition. And, in this case, they are telling. In 2002, when the Centre’s genetic engineering approval committee allowed the use of Bt cotton seeds, the country’s production was 13.6 million bales. According to the cotton advisory board, the yield per hectare was 302 kg and the total area under cotton cultivation was 7.67 million hectares. Within four years, with widespread usage of the new seed, production had more than doubled to 28 million bales. The yield has moved to 521 kg and the area under cotton has risen to 9.14 million hectares. For several years before the introduction of the new variety, cotton exports from India fluctuated between few thousands bales and one lakh bales. Within three years, exports moved to 5.8 million bales, peaking at 8.5 million in 2007-08 and earning foreign exchange worth Rs 8,366 crore. Compared with the other two top producers of cotton in the world, India’s performance is even more impressive. In 2002, the United States produced 17.2 million bales and China 25.2 million bales, according to figures published by the US department of agriculture. The spurt in India’s cotton production took it to 29 million bales in 2008-09, while the US declined to 13.52 million bales, having peaked at 23.89 in 2005-06. China produced 36. 5 million. From producing around 40 per cent of what China did, India has now touched a level of almost 70 per cent. Against the US, India’s output was 61 per cent. Today, it is 185 per cent. Indian farmers have used American technology, mixed their own ingenuity and overtaken them. Yet, the advocates of ‘natural’ seed use are still campaigning against the obviously superior variety. Most of their assertions — Bt seeds would use more pesticides, produce less and affect soil fertility by killing micro-organisms — have been proved wrong by scientists and by scientific studies. What remains are hollow assertions and an unrelenting agenda to attack multinationals. The result of the Bt cotton success story is there to see in the fields of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. The result is also visible in the companies that use raw Bt cotton. They appear to be happy because the new cotton has better strength and length and leads to better spinnability when made into thread or fabric. If the farmers are happy and are expanding the use of Bt cotton; if the spinning mills are elated by the raw material; and if markets abroad are giving a thumbs up to India’s exports, should the voices of doom have a say in the cotton future of the country? The answer is obvious.