1. Seed Varieties Sown

Amongst the Bt Cotton farmers in the sample, the following were the seed varieties studied:

Amongst the non-Bt Cotton farmers, around 40 different non-Bt Cotton hybrids were used by the 120 farmers in the sample. While the average seed price for Bt Cotton was Rs. 1694/- per packet [which is usually equivalent for one acre], the seed price for non-Bt Cotton on an average was Rs. 438.30/- per acre.

1. General Condition of the Crop

In 2005, the sowing took place from 10^th June to 25^th July amongst the sample Bt Cotton farmers. Amongst the non-Bt Cotton farmers, sowing took place between 12^th June to 21^st July, except for one farmer who had sown on 28^th May, under well irrigation.

Media reports about an unusual virus attack began in September 2005. There was reddening of leaves and plants along with stunted growth reported from various pockets. Different kinds of reasons were attributed to the situation. While some organizations reported that the ‘lalya’ disease was because of micro-nutrient deficiencies [especially of boron and magnesium], others said it was a viral attack by Tobacco Streak Virus. Yet others said that it was a severe attack of sucking pests. This was a condition that persisted throughout the season with an improvement only towards the end of December.

The Maharashtra government has accepted that the low production of Bt Cotton is due to lalya disease but is not accepting that this disease may have any related to the Bt technology. There is no systematic or scientific comparison between the incidence of lalya in Bt Cotton and its incidence on non-Bt Cotton. Scientists at the Cotton Research Centre in Nanded said that due to higher number of bolls, Bt Cotton needs more micro-nutrients and that the disease might have occurred due to low availability of these micro-nutrients.

1. Flowers, Squares and Bolls

During 8 visits made to the selected 165 Bt Cotton fields and 120 non-Bt Cotton fields throughout the season, 20 plants randomly selected per acre were studied for the number of squares, flowers and bolls present per plant as well as for the shedding of the same by each plant. Averages for each visit were calculated, pest-wise. The following are the results from the recordings averaged for the 8 visits made during the season.

Source: Primary Survey

The above table shows clearly that the non-Bt Cotton plants were more square- and fruit-bearing than the Bt Cotton plants in the areas studied. While this could be attributed both to the growing conditions and the genetic potential of the hybrids planted, Bt Cotton proponents have always talked about Bt Cotton plants retaining more bolls per plant since the damage to the fruit from bollworm larvae is supposedly low. The following table gives a picture of the retention of these parts on the plant, which in turn influences the economic viability.

Source: Primary Survey

It is interesting to note here that while at the square and flower stage, the retention on non-Bt Cotton was higher, when it comes to the boll stage, Bt Cotton’s retention was marginally higher. Whether this has any bearing on the yields can be seen later in a subsequent table on yields.

1. Pest Incidence

The study chose to observe the incidence of Sucking Pests, Bollworm complex and the Tobacco Caterpillar by selecting 20 plants randomly per acre and recording the pest incidence. Such recordings were taken eight times throughout the season.

Sucking Pests

Amongst the sucking pests, the pests studied were White Fly, Mites, Aphids and Jassids. The recording was done as High, Medium and Low, after studying mainly the top canopy of each plant. The following table presents a picture of their incidence on Bt Cotton and non-Bt Cotton plots, arrived as percentage number of plots where the incidence was High or Medium or Low, averaged through the season.

White Fly Incidence

Mites’ Incidence

Aphids’ Incidence

Jassids’ Incidence

In the case of three sucking pests, White Fly, Mites and Aphids, there are lesser non-Bt Cotton plots showing High incidence of the pest than the Bt Cotton plots, as the above tables indicate. In the case of Jassids, however, Bt Cotton had more plots with Lower Incidence.

Other Major Pests: Bollworms and Spodoptera

These pests were counted as absolute number of insects seen on the 20 plants selected randomly per plot[2]. 8 such visits were made to each of the 165 Bt Cotton plots and 120 non-Bt Cotton plots selected. 

American Bollworm: This is the bollworm for which Bt Cotton was mainly intended for. The following is the average incidence of American Bollworm on 20 plants per acre randomly selected on Bt Cotton and non-Bt Cotton in Kharif 2005, for eight such visits and then averaged for the season.

American Bollworms on 20 plants an average

Source: Primary Survey

As can be seen from the table, the incidence of bollworm in Bt Cotton as well as non-Bt Cotton kept fluctuating, probably as a response to various factors including external pesticide sprays that farmers were using. The overall incidence of American Bollworm in the season was marginally higher than on non-Bt Cotton.

Spotted Bollworms on 20 plants on an average

Source: Primary Survey

Here, the incidence of spotted bollworm on non-Bt Cotton was consistently lower than on Bt Cotton, reflected in the season-long averages too.

Pink Bollworms on 20 plants on an average

Source: Primary Survey

Our field-level observations show that pink bollworm incidence on Bt Cotton was consistently lower on non-Bt Cotton than on Bt Cotton throughout the season.

The overall bollworm incidence per plant was below the ETL in the season, at 0.21 in Bt Cotton and at a lower level of 0.16 on non-Bt Cotton.

During discussion with Mr. Sandeep Deshmukh of Savargaon village of Kalamb Taluka in Yavatmal district told that this year bollworm attack is more compared to last year. This farmer has demonstration plots of Rasi-370, Ajeet-155-1 etc. This is his second consecutive year of demonstration. When there was high incidence of Bollworm, the company suggested (Ajeet) to the farmer to spray Tracer pesticide. The cost of the pesticide is 16000 rupees per litre. He had to spray 3 to 4 sprays in the demonstration plot to control the dreaded bollworm. This pesticide was made available by the company. Ajeet Seeds company also gave Ajeet 33 non Bt Cotton which was sown adjacent to the Bt cotton plot to exhibit the differences between these two crops. However, the non-Bt Cotton plot performed better - during the farmers’ exposure visit, the company representatives never showed the non-Bt Cotton plot to the visiting farmers however. The company representative also reportedly promised Mr. Deshmukh that this BT variety will give 150 bolls per plant after 90 days but Mr. Deshmukh informed us that after 90 days, there are only 30-40 bolls per plant. He also reported that this year, wilt disease is more in BT cotton but in the same growing conditions, non-Bt Cotton had no effect.

Dainik Lokmat: 10^th September 05

Bollworm attack on Bt Cotton (Amrawati)

Villagers of Achalpur Taluka of Amrawati district have sown Bt Cotton this year. But the villagers had to face severe bollworm attack even before the flowering of the plants. Now they started spraying huge quantities of pesticides to control the bollworm and to save the crop from severe losses.

Tobacco Caterpillars on 20 plants on an average

Source: Primary Survey

Farmers observed that tobacco caterpillar incidence was higher on Bt Cotton compared to non-Bt Cotton and this is reflected in the field-level monitoring by the volunteers. The average incidence of spodoptera on 20 plants randomly selected in a Bt Cotton plot was 3.86 while the average was only 2.72 in the case of non-Bt Cotton.

1. Pesticide Use

The study recorded the use of pesticides and other synthetic chemicals to control sucking pests, bollworm complex and diseases separately. The researchers also collected data on growth regulators used on Bt Cotton and non-Bt Cotton.

The following are the findings with regard to pesticide use.

Source: Primary Survey

The above findings show that pesticide sprays were actually lower on non-Bt Cotton, including for Bollworm control and for Sucking Pests’ control. This also follows the observation on the actual pests counted on the plants.

The following table gives details of the cost of pesticide use for Bt Cotton and Non-Bt Cotton.

Source: Primary Survey

PART 3 OF THE REPORT: http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6446