According to a study, one of the main reasons for farmers suicide in Vidarbha is use of spurious Bt cotton seeds.
Study by Central Institute for Cotton Research (ICAR) revealed that out of Bt cotton supplied to farmers in Vidarbha region, 20 percent were non-Bt variety and 60 percent were mixed variety which was incapable to fight against Bollgrad pest. Only 20 percent of the Bt cotton supplied were genuine.
Other ways should be found out to tackle the problem of low standard and spurious Bt cotton seeds, an official of Ministry said.
Cotton production of the country for the period 2005-2006 is estimated to be 24 million bales (170 kg per bale) and higher part of it is Bt cotton cultivated on 8.6 million acres, ICAR study revealed.
