Organic cotton outperforms GM cotton

A recent report from DNAIndia.com (highlighted by the BioFach newsletter) has once again shown that Organic cotton is the future. It is becoming increasingly self evident that GM cotton is both environmentally and economically unsustainable.

The report, entitled "Organic cotton beats Bt [Biotech/GM] cotton" highlights a survey undertaken by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture in India. The study shows quite clearly that the marginal initial increases achieved in yields by growing GM cotton are outweighed by the higher costs of chemical pesticides associated with managing GM cotton crops.

Indeed, while the gross income from GM cotton to farmers who took part in the survey was on average Rs11,918 and Rs 10, 627 for organic cotton farmers. The net income (i.e. income after production costs) was markedly in favour of organic produces who achieved an average income of Rs 5,618 compared with GM produces who were left significantly worse of with an income of R.s. 3,551 per acre.

This echoes the fears of many anti-GM campaigners who have argued for many years that GM cotton production leaves producers in debt as increasingly large quantities of chemicals are needed to control pests. Even though GM cotton is supposed to do away with the need for ever higher doses of pesticides.

Organic cotton farming has proved itself time and again that it can be efficient (i.e. have high yields) without doing damage to the environment or to the farmers and communities who grow the cotton crops.

You can view the full report here: dna india.com


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