NOTE: See also the SAGE press release
http://www.ddsindia.com/www/pdf/PR%20April%209,%202012.pdf
And for the summary of "Bt Cotton and Beyond: Status & Implications of Genetically Engineered Crops and post GE technologies for small and marginal farmers in Africa & Asia – An Afro Asian Conclave."
http://www.ddsindia.com/www/pdf/B&B%20Summary.pdf
Full report
http://www.ddsindia.com/www/pdf/B&B%20Report.pdf
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Bt cotton has done little in increasing yields: SAGE
Business Line, April 9 2012
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/article3296033.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy
Hyderabad: The Southern Action on Genetic Engineering (SAGE) has alleged that the 'success story of Bt cotton' in the last 10 years is only a hype.
When Bt cotton spread to 85 per cent of the country's cotton area in 2009-10, the yield was 474 kg of lint a hectare.
"This is just 4 kg more than the yield in 2004-05 when Bt cotton's share was 5.70 per cent in the total cotton area. Besides 25 lakh acres of new area has been brought under cotton ever since significantly increasing production," Mr P.V. Satheesh, National Convenor of SAGE, said.
SAGE is an umbrella organisation of non-governmental organisations and intellectuals that oppose genetic engineering in agriculture.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said the cost of inputs went up by 50 per cent for farmers, while the increase in yield was just 4 kg. Quoting Cotton Advisory Board figures, he said yields, in fact, were coming down in the last five years. From 524 kg of lint a ha in 2007-08, yield fell to 474 in 2009-10, a decline of 12 per cent over the previous year's yield.
"Addition of 25 lakh acres and cultivation of cotton under irrigated areas have led to higher production. Praising Bt cotton for this achievement is totally undue," he said.
In Andhra Pradesh, cotton crop on 33.73 lakh acres had failed, while farmers sowed the crop on 47 lakh acres.
Besides, Bt cotton also posed a threat to soil health. "We have witnessed soil fatigue in some cotton growing areas," he said.