Introduction of Biotechnology in India’s Agriculture: Impact, Performance and Economics

288 Pages·2016·6.18 MB·English

by  Vasant P. Gandhi

Vasant P. Gandhi · Dinesh Jain
Introduction of
Biotechnology
in India’s
Agriculture
Impact, Performance and Economics
Introduction of Biotechnology in India’s
Agriculture
CMA Publication no. 247

Vasant P. Gandhi (cid:129) Dinesh Jain
Introduction of
Biotechnology in India’s
Agriculture
Impact, Performance and Economics
Vasant P. Gandhi Dinesh Jain
Centre for Management in Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development
Indian Institute of Management Institute of India
Ahmedabad (IIMA) Ahmedabad , India
Ahmedabad , India
ISBN 978-981-10-1090-3 ISBN 978-981-10-1091-0 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-1091-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016947064
© Centre for Management in Agriculture (CMA), Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad 2016
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Foreword
The Centre for Management in Agriculture (CMA), Indian Institute of Management,
Ahmedabad, is actively engaged in applied and problem-solving research on agri-
culture, food and agribusiness management, towards achieving the major goals of
agricultural and rural development in the country and the world. As a result, over the
years, CMA has developed considerable expertise in a large spectrum of areas of
agriculture and agribusiness, including the management of agricultural inputs, agro-
processing, agri-food marketing , rural infrastructure, grass-roots innovations,
appropriate technologies for arid and semiarid regions, international agricultural
trade and WTO issues, global competitiveness, commodity markets, food safety and
quality including organic food, food supermarkets and food value chains. CMA
undertakes research of this kind, especially for the Ministry of Agriculture,
Government of India, and on its own as well as at the request of other client groups.
The context of the present research is the urgent need for new breakthroughs in
agricultural technology and India’s experience in the introduction of biotechnology
in cotton, a major commercial crop in India. Scientifi c advances in biological sci-
ences are leading to major breakthroughs in the recent years, and one of the impor-
tant outcomes is the development of Bt cotton. The study, undertaken at the request
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, has sought to objectively
examine the experience of Bt cotton vs non-Bt cotton in the major cotton states of
A ndhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and T amil Nadu which together account for
about 70 % of the cotton production. With a sample of 694 farm households, the
study reports on the yields, p esticide costs, s eed costs, overall cost of production
and profi ts. It also reports on the e nvironmental impacts, the satisfaction with the
technology and ways of improving its effectiveness.
I am sure the study will be found useful by policymakers, academicians, manag-
ers and others interested in issues of agriculture, new technology and the welfare of
the farmers in the country.
Indian Institute of Management Ashish Nanda
Ahmedabad , India
v

Pref ace
The book is dedicated to the memory of Professor D.K. Desai, the founder of the
Centre for Management in Agriculture and the pioneer of agribusiness education in
India, and Professor Gunvant Desai, the outstanding professor and researcher from
whom the authors learnt so much. The book is a result of research studies conducted
by the authors and associated researchers to objectively examine the p erformance of
the recently introduced Bt cotton varieties in India. The study was undertaken at the
request of the Ministry of Agriculture, government of India, as a coordinated
research project covering the major cotton-growing states of Andhra Pradesh ,
Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu , to objectively evaluate its performance. The
study was conducted under the leadership of the Centre for Management in
Agriculture (CMA), Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), and in
cooperation with the Agro-Economic Research Centres (AERCs) in these states,
associated with the ministry. While the study in Maharashtra and the consolidated
study were carried out by CMA, the other studies were largely undertaken by the
respective AERCs in these states in coordination with CMA. This book manuscript
consolidates the following research studies:
1. Economics of Bt Cotton vis-à-vis traditional Cotton Varieties – Study in Andhra
Pradesh, by N. Ramgopal, Agro-Economic Research Centre, Andhra University,
Visakhapatnam, 2006.
2 . R eturns to Bt Cotton vis-à-vis Traditional Cotton Varieties in Gujarat State, by
V.D. Shah, Agro-Economic Research Centre, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh
Vidyanagar, 2007.
3. Returns and Economics of Bt Cotton vis-à-vis Traditional Cotton Varieties in the
State of Maharashtra in India, by Vasant P. Gandhi and N.V. Namboodiri, Centre
for Management in Agriculture, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad,
2009.
4. Returns to Bt Cotton vis-à-vis Traditional Cotton in Tamil Nadu, by A. Pushpavalli,
Agro-Economic Research Centre, University of Madras, Chennai, 2007.
The authors very gratefully acknowledge the contributions of N. Ramgopal,
Agro-Economic Research Centre (AERC), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh ;
vii
viii Preface
V.D. Shah, AERC, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat; S.S. Kalamkar, AERC, Pune,
Maharashtra; A. Pushpavalli, AERC, Chennai, Tamil Nadu; and N.V. Namboodiri,
CMA-IIMA, as well as the heads and staff of all the centres. The authors wish to
sincerely thank Darshan Ajudia, Varsha Khandker, Chandrabhushan, Aashish
Argade, PV Sethumadhavan, Barathi Ramachandran, Mini Nair and Dipali Solanki
for their assistance. Support of the Ministry of Agriculture, G overnment of India,
and CMA-IIMA is gratefully acknowledged.
Ahmedabad, India Vasant P. Gandhi
Dinesh Jain
Contents
Part I Introduction
1 Introduction and Objectives of the Study ............................................. 3
1.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 3
1.2 Objectives and Methodology of the Study..................................... 4
References ................................................................................................. 5
2 An Overview of Cotton in India............................................................. 7
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 7
2.2 World Scenario .............................................................................. 7
2.3 Cotton Cultivation in India: Recent Performance .......................... 7
2.4 Geographical Distribution of Area and Production
of Cotton ........................................................................................ 10
2.5 Recent Performance of Cotton Cultivation
in the Selected States ..................................................................... 11
3 Development and Adoption of Bt Cotton .............................................. 17
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 17
3.2 Review of Literature ...................................................................... 19
3.2.1 Pesticide Use ................................................................... 20
3.2.2 Cost of Production and Yield ........................................... 22
3.2.3 Bt Cotton Seed Price ....................................................... 22
3.2.4 Environmental Considerations ........................................ 23
3.2.5 Voices for and Against Bt Cotton .................................... 23
3.3 Adoption of Bt Cotton in India ...................................................... 24
References ................................................................................................. 25
Part II Bt Cotton vis-a-vis Non-Bt Cotton Overall in India
4 Sampling and Methodology of the Study Across the States ................ 29
4.1 Sample Design ............................................................................... 29
ix