Bt cotton cultivation is likely to increase to 1.25 lakh hectares in 2003 as against 40,000 hectares last year, according to Indian
agricultural commissioner Dr CD Mayee.

Speaking on commercialisation of Bt cotton in India, Dr Mayee said: “The results of Bt cotton planted in six major cotton-growing states in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are very encouraging.”

He said estimates showed that more than 75,000 farmers in the country would reap the benefits of Bt cotton, almost double in number than the previous year.

Still, the scope to increase the coverage of Bt seeds is enormous as the cotton is grown over more than 80 lakh hectares across India.

The Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy (CMIE) in its recent report estimated an increase in cotton yield by 50 kg per hectares crossing the mark of 450 kg per hectares in 2002-03, he told eFE on the sidelines of a workshop on ‘Role of biotechnology in agriculture’ organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi on Monday.