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Download this beautiful PDF Article on BT Cotton.

Written by

K. R. Kranthi, Ph.D, FNAAS
Director
Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur

Contents

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
1. What is Bt-cotton?
2. Why do we need Bt-cotton?
3. Do we need other Bt-crops?
4. How does Bt-cotton kill insects?
5. Is Bt-cotton really selectively toxic to insects?

Chapter 2: BIOSAFETY

6. Is Bt-cotton toxic to goats and cattle?
7. Is Bt-cotton harmful to human beings?
8. Are the current bio-safety-testing methods adequate?

Chapter 3: BT TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA

19. Who developed the technology?
20. Which are the Bt genes available in Bt-cotton commercialized in India?
21. How many Bt-hybrids are available in India?

Chapter 4: YIELDS AND PRODUCTION ASPECTS

27. Have yields increased in India after the introduction of Bt-cotton?
28. Are the yields stagnating in India and why?

Chapter 5: HYBRIDS AND WATER REQUIREMENT

35. Is Bt-cotton best suited only for irrigated regions?
36. If Bt-cotton is best suited to irrigated conditions and better soils, then,

Chapter 6: BOLLWORM CONTROL

41. Is Bt cotton really controlling bollworms?
42. How many sprays are being used now to control bollworms in cotton?
43. Have there been changes in insecticide usage for bollworm and sucking

Chapter 7: RESISTANCE AND MANAGEMENT

51. What is refugia?
52. Are farmers following the refugia guidelines?
53. Will bollworms develop resistance to Bt-cotton?

Chapter 8: NEW GM COTTON TECHNOLOGIES

60. Are there new Bt genes for new versions of Bt-cotton?
61. Are we going to continue with addition of new genes for insect control?
62. What is herbicide resistant cotton?
63. Can herbicide resistant cotton be grown with inter-crops?

Chapter 9: BENEFITS OF BT COTTON

64. What have been the benefits of Bt-cotton so far in India?
65. Has there been any environmental benefit with Bt-cotton?
66. How can we improve the environmental benefits?
67. What have been the benefits of Bt-cotton, so far, abroad?
68. Has the quality of cotton improved with Bt-cotton?
69. Did our imports decline and exports increase with Bt-cotton introduction?

Chapter 10: CRITICISMS AND CONCERNS

70. What has been negative fallout of the cultivation of Bt cotton on the
farmers field?
71. What are the major criticisms of Bt-cotton by NGOs and concerns
expressed by farmers?
72. Is parawilt associated with Bt-cotton?
73. What are the perceived risks with Bt-cotton?
74. Are new pests and diseases appearing on cotton and why?