Bt Cotton Crop Failing To Resist Pests

There is over 80 % damage of Bt cotton fields in Raichur district , which is destroyed by pink bollworm. However, Bt cotton producers, in the instruction manual, have given an assurance of protection from pink bollworm. This is simple failure of Bt cotton technology.
Failing technology

• Bt technology is blamed for failure for crop destruction. Crop was destroyed despite the farmers cultivating it as per instructions of seed producers and agricultural universities. There is possibility that pests are developing resistance to Bt toxin produced by Bt crop.
• The outbreaks of white fly in North Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in 1996, mirid bugs in Haveri and surrounding areas in 2013 and pink bollworm now in Raichur have refuted the claims of Bt cotton seed producers on pest-resistance.
• There is possibility that the next outbreak of pest in Bt cotton could be American bollworm which would be more dangerous as it, unlike the pink bollworm that destroys only cotton crop, destroys other crops along with cotton.

About Bt Cotton:
Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton variety. bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produce over 200 different Bt toxins, each harmful to different insects. Most notably, Bt toxins are insecticidal to the larvae of moths and butterflies, beetles, cotton bollworms and ghtu flies but are harmless to other forms of life. The gene coding for Bt toxin has been inserted into cotton as a transgene, causing it to produce this natural insecticide in its tissues.
Advantage:

• Increases yield of cotton due to effective control of three types of bollworms, viz. American, Spotted and Pink bollworms.
• Insects belonged to Lepidoptera (Bollworms) are sensitive to crystalline endotoxic protein produced by Bt gene which in turn protects cotton from bollworms.
• Reduction in pesticide use in the cultivation of Bt cotton in which bollworms are major pests.
• Reduction in the cost of cultivation and lower farming risks.
• Reduction in environmental pollution by the use of insecticides rarely.
• Bt cotton exhibit genetic resistance or inbuilt resistance which is a permanent type of resistance and not affected by environmental factors. Thus protects crop from bollworms.
• Bt cotton is ecofriendly and does not have adverse effect on parasites, predators, beneficial insecticides and organisms present in soil.
• It promotes multiplication of parasites and predators which help in controlling the bollworms by feeding on larvae and eggs of bollworm.
• No health hazards due to rare use of insecticides (particularly who is engaged in spraying of insecticides).

Disadvantages

• High cost of Bt cotton seeds as compared to non Bt cotton seeds.
• Effectiveness up to 120 days, after that the toxin producing efficiency of the Bt gene drastically reduces.
• Ineffective against sucking pests like jassids, aphids, whitefly etc.

By: Vishal