BT variety accounts for 90% of total cotton area in India

Biotech cotton (BT cotton) accounts for nearly 90% of total plantation of this important commercial crop in India, which helped the country achieve an about 38% jump in output of the natural fibre in 2010-11.

According to the latest government data, total land under cotton cultivation stood at 111.42 lakh hectares in 2010-11, out of which about 90% was under Bt cotton. Bt cotton was sown over 98.54 lakh hectares during the period.  

Cotton was planted in 110 lakh hectares area in 2009-10. Because of the popularity of the high yielding Bt variety, the country achieved a nearly 38% jump in output of the crop during 2010-11.

India produced 334.25 lakh bales (170 kg each) of cotton in 2010-11, as against 242.25 lakh bales in the previous year, the data shows.  

The introduction of Bt cotton in India in 2002 has brought about a revolution in the production of this commercial crop. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are the main producers of cotton, it added.  

According to the government data, in Maharashtra, out of the total 39.32 lakh hectares under cotton crops, Bt cotton was spread over 36.21 lakh hectares and the state produced 88 lakh bales. 

Bt cotton was planted in 21.33 lakh hectares out of the total 26.33 lakh hectares under cotton in Gujarat during the same year, which resulted in an output of 105 lakh bales, it said.

In Andhra Pradesh, Bt cotton was cultivated in 17.50 lakh hectares out of the total 17.84 lakh hectares under cotton cultivation. It produced 53 lakh bales in 2010-11, the data added.