Cultivation area of transgenic Bt cotton in the country has reached 63.3 lakh hectares or 66% of the total estimated cotton area of 95.3 lakh hectares during the current season 2007-08.
Maximum acreage of Bt cotton in the country is reported in the central zone at 43.8 lakh hectares, followed by the south zone with 10.8 lakh hectares and north zone with 8.7 lakh hectares, according to the latest issue of Cotton Statistic and News released by Cotton Association of India (CAI). The total coverage of Bt cotton comes to 72%, 68% and 69% of the total area in the central, south and north zones, respectively. Such extensive coverage by the high yieldingbollworm-resistant Bt cotton is helpful in boosting cotton production to an estimated all-time high cotton crop of 310 lakh bales.
The national average yield of cotton in the country is almost at the bottom level compared to most other leading producers in the world. The average yield is expected to be around 553 kg per hectares (as against world’s average of 765 kg/hectare). This has helped the country in narrowing the gap between national and world average yields. While the gap between national and world averages has been as high as 338 kg/hectare in 2000-01, it is only 212 kg/hectare in 2007-08. The yields in some leading states seem to strengthen this expectation. The relevant yield figures to the major four states, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab are expected at 743, 691, 667 and 630 kg/hectare, respectively.