Sustaining the cotton revolution

A consistent downtrend in cotton yield over the past decade is a clear indication that the cotton revolution, triggered by the introduction of gene-altered and pest-protected Bt-cotton hybrids in 2002, has withered away.

- SURINDER SUD

Though this can be attributed to several factors, notably the emergence of new pests and diseases, the prime reason seems to be the government's imprudent policy regarding genetically modified (GM) crops, which has thwarted the muchneeded regular flow of new and upgraded seeds to replace the outmoded ones. Most of the initial GM cotton hybrids, containing the pest-killer gene borrowed from the soil-dwelling bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), have outlived their utility, having lost their vitality and ability to withstand the threats from constantly metamorphosing pests and pathogens, and climate changeinduced challenges. Their effective, and even better, alternatives are the need of the hour.