Fertilizers, BT technology, and insecticides contributed to 60%, 23%, and 17%, respectively to the increase in BT cotton yield: An analysis from 2000 to 2014 in India

Complementary technologies and agricultural practices capable of sustaining profitability to the farmers cultivating BtCotton in India require urgent attention. In India, approval of Btcotton, cultivation of fertilizer-intensive hybrids, higher dose of fertilizer application by farmers, usage of novel pesticides all happened simultaneously during the same period (2002-04) which makes very difficult to identify the individual effect in the yield gain of cotton. In this background, we attempted to understand the proportionate contribution of fertilizers, BT technology and novel group of pesticides in enhancing cotton yield in India. For the analysis, linear regression model and change in partial factor productivity (PFP) of cotton was considered in four different scenarios for yield estimation between 2000 and 2014, i.e. Scenario I: Cotton yield in the absence of technology and enhanced fertilizers usage, Scenario II: Cotton yield only due to enhanced fertilizer usage, Scenario III: Cotton yield with enhanced fertilizer and application of novel pesticides for the insect control, and Scenario IV: Cotton yield due to BT technology, enhanced use of fertilizer, and novel insecticides (actual yield of Cotton in India during Bt phase).Their comparison showed that the individual effect of fertilizers, BT technology and insecticides contributed to 60%, 23% and 17% of cotton yield, respectively in India. Further, 18% reduction in PFP was observed recently as compared to 2003-08. Besides, 125 Kg/ha of fertilizers was identified as optimum dose for sustaining high yield in cotton. Thus, present analysis identified the individual effect of different technologies contributing to the yield of cotton in India which can be used in decision making processes for crop improvement. Further, in our opinion, three strategies namely drip fertigation, intercrossing Bt and non-Bt hybrids for resistance management in bollworms, and IPM for sucking pests will primarily drive the research priorities and policy actions for the next 5 to 10 years in sustaining the economic benefits of the six million cotton farmers in India.