This paper presents amuchneeded and timely assessment of the performance of Bt cotton under typical farmer-managed conditions in India.
The paper provides an analysis of data collected from a large sample of farmers growing conventional and Bt cotton under real commercial field conditions over two seasons, since Bt cotton has been licensed for commercial use in India (Food and AgricultureOrganization).
Unlike some previous Indian studies (e.g., Qaim and Zilberman), commercial field data are analyzed rather than trial plot data. As a result, this study meets the Food and AgricultureOrganization's (FAO) call for more “market based studies” that will accurately reflect the agronomic and economic environments Bt cotton growers face.
The analysis concentrates on addressing whether Indian farmers have experienced economic gains from growing Bt hybrids released by a company affiliated with Monsanto (Mahyco–Monsanto), compared with a complex of non-Bt hybrids and cultivars. The paper explores the performance of Bt varieties, including spatial differences.
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