In News:

Punjab's cotton sector is facing a severe crisis due to increasing pest infestations and declining yields. In response, there is a rising demand for advanced genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties, particularly Bollgard-3, ahead of the 2025 sowing season.

Key Facts:

Decline in Cotton Cultivation in Punjab:

• Cotton acreage in Punjab has drastically declined from ~8 lakh hectares (1990s) to just 1 lakh hectares (2024).
• The ginning industry has also shrunk — only 22 ginning units remain functional, down from 422 in 2004.
• The main causes are whitefly (2015–16) and pink bollworm (2018–19) infestations.

About Bollgard Series of Bt Cotton:

Version                      Introduced in India             Features

Bollgard-1                2002                                     Contains Cry1Ac gene — limited pest resistance

Bollgard-2               2006                                     Added Cry2Ab gene — wider pest control, still ineffective against

                                                                               whiteflies and pink bollworms

Bollgard-3               Not approved in India       Contains Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, and Vip3A — effective against

                                                                                 lepidopteran pests like pink bollworm

• Bollgard-3, developed by Monsanto, offers enhanced pest resistance, but remains unapproved in India despite global usage.
• Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a soil-dwelling bacterium used in GM crops for pest resistance by producing insecticidal proteins.

Alternative in Pipeline – BG-2RRF:

• Bollgard-2 Roundup Ready Flex (BG-2RRF) is aherbicide-tolerant GM cotton variety pending final regulatory approval in India.
• Enables better weed control and potentially reduces pest hosts, boosting yield.  

• Field trials for BG-2RRF were conducted in 2012–13, but commercial approval remains pending.
• Experts argue that regulatory hurdles are delaying the adoption of next-generation GM seed technologies, affecting India's cotton competitiveness.

Current Agronomic Recommendations:

• In absence of new GM varieties, experts suggest:
  • High-density planting
  • Drip fertigation
  • Proper seeding and mulching
• However, pest management remains a critical issue under current practices.

Comparative Global Context:

• Countries like Brazil are using Bollgard-5, achieving yields of 2400 kg/ha, compared to 450 kg/ha in India.
• India's profit margin from cotton is just 15%, whereas Brazil enjoys 85% margins due to advanced biotech adoption.