UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 07th April 2025

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Emergency in India’s Cotton Economy

Why in News?

India’s cotton production has declined sharply due to pink bollworm resistance against Bt cotton, prompting renewed trials of next-generation GM cotton hybrids under regulatory scrutiny.

Introduction

India is the world’s largest producer of cotton and has historically enjoyed a competitive edge in cotton and textile exports.
However, the country’s cotton economy is currently facing a serious downturn marked by declining production, rising imports, and pest-induced crop failures.
Despite relatively lower export tariffs under the US “reciprocal tariff” regime, India’s cotton sector is struggling due to structural and biological challenges.

Declining Production: A Cause for Concern

India’s cotton output for the 2024-25 marketing year is projected at just 294 lakh bales, the lowest since 2008-09.
This marks a significant fall from the peak of 398 lakh bales in 2013-14, threatening the viability of cotton farming and the associated textile value chain.
This downturn comes despite technological advancements and favorable export tariffs compared to competitors like China and Bangladesh.

Bt Cotton and Its Initial Success

The introduction of genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton hybrids in 2002 led to a transformative increase in production and exports:

Cotton output rose from 136 lakh bales (2002-03) to 398 lakh bales (2013-14).
Cotton exports soared from 0.8 lakh bales to 117 lakh bales in the same period.

The hybrids used genes (cry1Ac and cry2Ab) derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which proved effective against major cotton pests like the American bollworm.

The Pink Bollworm Crisis

The resurgence of the Pink Bollworm (PBW) has emerged as a critical threat:

PBW larvae infest cotton bolls, destroying seeds and lint.
Being a monophagous pest, PBW exclusively feeds on cotton, accelerating resistance development to Bt toxins.
Resistance to Bt genes was first recorded in 2014, leading to widespread crop damage across major cotton-growing states in successive years.

This pest resistance has coincided with a sharp drop in average lint yield from 566 kg/hectare (2013-14) to 436-437 kg/hectare (recent years), significantly impacting farmer incomes.

India: From Exporter to Importer

India, once a net exporter of cotton, is witnessing a reversal:

Cotton imports in 2024-25 are projected at 30 lakh bales, surpassing expected exports of just 17 lakh bales.
This trend underlines a structural imbalance and signals declining self-sufficiency.

New Biotechnological Interventions

Several Indian seed companies are attempting to develop next-generation Bt cotton hybrids to combat PBW resistance:

Bioseed Research India (DCM Shriram Group): Developing hybrids with the cry8Ea1 gene.
Rasi Seeds Pvt Ltd: Using synthetic cry1c gene variants.
Ankur Seeds (in partnership with NBRI): Working on a chimeric Bt protein through ‘Event 519’.
Ajeet Seeds Pvt Ltd: Received permission for trials with cry2Aa gene-based lines.

These developments, however, are still in Biosafety Research Level-1 (BRL-1) or event selection stages and require further multi-year trials before commercialization.

Regulatory Bottlenecks

India has not approved any new GM crop after Monsanto’s Bollgard-II in 2006, due to:

Lengthy and multi-stage regulatory processes.
Opposition from environmental groups.
Requirement of state government approval for field trials.

These hurdles have prevented timely adaptation to evolving pest threats and technological needs.

Policy Response: Mission for Cotton Productivity

In response to the growing crisis, the Union Government announced a five-year “Mission for Cotton Productivity” in the 2025-26 Union Budget. The mission aims to:

Provide cutting-edge scientific and technological support to cotton farmers.
Ensure a steady supply of quality cotton to the textile industry.
Enhance yield sustainability through better pest management and quality seeds.

This mission could mark a turning point if supported by proactive regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships, and farmer-centric innovation.

Conclusion

The crisis in India’s cotton economy highlights the limitations of technological stagnation in the face of evolving biological threats.
While Bt cotton delivered significant early gains, the emergence of resistant pests like PBW, combined with regulatory inertia, has pushed the sector into a downward spiral.
The recently announced Mission for Cotton Productivity presents a timely opportunity to revive cotton farming, but its success will depend on timely approval of new GM technologies, effective extension services, and robust farmer support systems.