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Chennai, Feb 14: Cotton production in India in 2007-08 is estimated by the Cotton Association of India, to be at a record level of 310 lakh bales of 170 kg each up from 280 lakh bales in the previous season. The yield increase is attributed to transgenic Bt cotton, which helped yield increase by reducing loss from bollworm attack.
Productivity in the Indian cotton fields at 553 kg a hectare is much below the world average of 765 kg per hectare. Increased use of Bt cotton has been gradually bridging the gap. According to CAB statistics, productivity has increased from 427 kg a hectare before 2000-01, the year in which Bt was introduced to Indian fields, to 553 kg last season.
The use of Bt cotton has fostered Indian yields since the season of 2000-2001, in which India produced 338 kg less cotton per hectare than the world average. For the current growing season of 2007-08, the national shortfall is anticipated to be only 212 kg per hectare and the four major cotton-producing states of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab are expected to achieve yields of 743, 691, 667 and 630 kg, cotton per hectare, respectively.
The Cotton Advisory Board statistics show that 66% of cotton grown in the current season in the country is transgenic. Cotton acreage in India totals more than 95 lakh hectares.
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