In the new millennium we have confirmed that we are unable to ensureecological viability and economic sustainability in the agricultural sectorand it is directly more applicable to cotton than any other crop.

There is urgent need for further research to understand the complexinteraction between ecology, agronomy, biology, climatology and to developit into an ecologically based disease and insect control strategy whichrepresents only a part of the overall crop protection system.

Startlingly, biotechnology has opened new vistas in cotton production.Scientists have successfully accomplished integration of the delta endotoxinin Bacillus thruringiensis strain kurstaki gene for in-built protectionagainst Lepidotepteros pests (bollworms) for transgenic integration intospecific cotton cultivar genomes.

It is very interesting to note that such ``Bt'' cultivars have gone intocultivation in cotton growing areas over 3 million hectares of USA,Australia, China, S Africa, Argentina etc. Biotechnological approach hascome to the rescue of manipulating round up herbicide resistance has alsobeen manipulated likewise.

The trends in biotechnology have indicated its scope for transgenicmodification of fibres for several quality parameters like lint, colour andso on. In fact, if biotechnology used in its proper perspective then it mayput cotton in improving its competitiveness vis-a-vis other fibres.

The cost of production of cotton has gone up all over the world and ourcountry is no exception. The exception between other cotton growingcountries and our country is that though the cost of production is going up,the productivity is lowest. India has no option now to place immediateemphasis on perpetual incremental production per unit area throughstrategies and technologies that will increase productivity of cotton unitacre on one side and on the other will not keep unwanted stress on theenvironment.

Obviously immediate attention is to be paid to break the barriers toincreased productivity through management of key input components in allperspectives, scientific management of significant destructive elements andadoption of inherent fibre quality preservation technologies at growing, preand post- harvest stages at any cost. Refining the processes from grading,ginning, pricing, handling evaluating, electronic marketing etc areessential to enhance the market and user competitiveness of cotton is alsothe need of the time.

Cotton is notorious for its susceptibility to various pests. It is veryimportant to note that the world over nearly 23 per cent of the cropinsecticides is consumed by cotton. In India because of weather conditionsthis percentage is almost over 50 per cent of the total insecticides used inIndia are accounted for by cotton.

As a matter of fact, India, China and Pakistan which account for over 40 percent of global cotton production have faced intensification of pest relatedproblems due to excessive use of chemical pesticides, while some pockets inour country do not use insecticides and other chemicals significantly.

Development of resistance to insecticides is most serious insect pest ofcotton and has also become a major hurdle. Almost all-chemical pesticidefirms despite their strong lobby in the country have now started realisingthat cotton farmer is scared of them.

The main reason is obviously tremendous resistance to chemical pesticides.In fact, the statistics proves beyond doubt that cotton farmer can cut downcosts of using chemical pesticides to almost 25 per cent.

It is worthwhile noting that many cotton farmers in Vidarbha region have nowswitched from chemical cotton farming to organic farming. Many have startedusing combination of biofertilisers like Growmore, Shoot Up and Growzymemanufactured by Suvash Biogenics Pvt Ltd, Mumbai and have found that theirchemical pesticide consumption not only reduced to 25 per cent but to a bearminimum of 8-10 per cent.

In addition the cotton growers who are using combination of thesebiofertilisers not only got about 36 per cent yield but they are alsogetting little better price for their cotton. Most of the giant pesticidecompanies have started recommending reduction of chemical pesticides andstartlingly advocating use of bio control agents, biofertilisers and so onunder the sweet and convenient pretext of integrated pest managementprogrammes.

Nevertheless, it must be mentioned here without any bias that their mainobjective is to sell the chemicals they produce. In reality if the cottonfarmers do not use any of the chemical pesticides then half of the businessof these companies get affected directly.

Average losses on account of crop damage by insect pests works out to 10-30per cent. India loses annually about 6-7 million bales (1.20 m tonnes oflint and 2.40 m tonnes of seeds) of lint on account of these products.

Effective control of resistant population of insect species is eventrickier. As said earlier more you use biofertilisers like Growmore, ShootUp and Growzyme, less attack of insects on the cotton filed. Likewise reduceuse of chemicals drastically up to 10 per cent and the yield automaticallyincreases.

Sustainability of cotton production must take into consideration all thesefactors to maintain desirable level of cotton yields over long period andIndia should be the main beneficiary in the coordinated global and regionallevels to solve this problem. This aspect of cotton cultivation has greatpotential for enhancing the yield and reducing the cost of production aswell as environmental pollution.

In fine, organic farming of cotton which was practiced in India sinceancient times need to be suitably modified by introducing environmentfriendly biotechnologies to ensure not only bumper crops to cotton growersbut also high price to build overall prosperity and to create win-winsituation for everyone.