Breakthroughs in science and technology often produce stunning results such as in the green revolution which swept through much of Asia averting the food crisis. Given the present slowing of agricultural growth and rising commodity prices, breakthroughs are once again urgently required and this has put biotechnology at the forefront of a new potential green revolution. One of the frontrunners in this has been development of Bt Cotton which was introduced into India in 2002, amidst much hesitation, after its induction in a large number of other countries. Whereas it has been accepted and has spread rapidly in India leading to a substantial growth in cotton production, there are conflicting reports about its success and various issues and problems have been raised. In light of this, the book examines the performance of Bt Cotton vis-à-vis non-Bt Cotton in the state of Maharashtra which is the largest cotton growing state by area. This is part of a coordinated study undertaken by the authors for the Ministry of Agriculture covering four major cotton states—Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu—which together account for about 70 percent of the country's cotton production. The book examines the adoption, experience, performance and economics of Bt cotton in Maharashtra. It reports on the advantages, disadvantages as well as other observations on Bt cotton as conveyed by the farmers of the state.
Breakthroughs in science and technology often produce stunning results such as in the green revolution which swept through much of Asia averting the food crisis. Given the present slowing of agricultural growth and rising commodity prices, breakthroughs are once again urgently required and this has put biotechnology at the forefront of a new potential green revolution. One of the frontrunners in this has been development of Bt Cotton which was introduced into India in 2002, amidst much hesitation, after its induction in a large number of other countries. Whereas it has been accepted and has spread rapidly in India leading to a substantial growth in cotton production, there are conflicting reports about its success and various issues and problems have been raised. In light of this, the book examines the performance of Bt Cotton vis-à-vis non-Bt Cotton in the state of Maharashtra which is the largest cotton growing state by area. This is part of a coordinated study undertaken by the authors for the Ministry of Agriculture covering four major cotton states—Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu—which together account for about 70 percent of the country's cotton production. The book examines the adoption, experience, performance and economics of Bt cotton in Maharashtra. It reports on the advantages, disadvantages as well as other observations on Bt cotton as conveyed by the farmers of the state.
There is a growing crisis in water resource management today and this is becoming increasingly serious as development accelerates. The management of the water resource across vast areas of the country, and amongst millions of users is becoming a major challenge. The crucial role of irrigation in food production as well as livelihoods in India is well-known. Irrigation systems frequently show low water use efficiency, poor maintenance, and weak financial sustainability. The technical and economic solutions to the problems are typically known and often simple, but the institutional management in a participative political economy framework is becoming very difficult and is posing a serious challenge. The analysis of the shortcomings point substantially to the lack of meaningful involvement of the farmers in decision making and various physical activities. This has led to a growing emphasis on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) which has been, by policy, promoted vigorously by the central and state governments in the past 2-3 decades. However, doubts exist regarding the extent of devolution, the institutional capacity, and the impact on agriculture and rural livelihoods. In light of this, the present research, undertaken collaboratively with the State Agro-Economic Research Centers, examines the nature and performance of PIM across three major states: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
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