BT Cotton and its Impact on Cropping Pattern in Punjab

Abstract

It was the common observation that area under BT cotton was
increasing in the recent past. In order to quantify the impact of BT
cotton on the existing cropping pattern, this study was conducted. A
sample of 300 respondents comprising of small, medium and large
category of the farmers was taken from the districts of Vehari, Multan,
Bahawalpur (Cotton zone) and Jhang, TTS, Faisalabad (Central Zone).
Data pertained to the two consecutive years i.e. 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Empirical results revealed that BT cotton area was increasing firstly at
the expense of wheat area and sugarcane area secondly. In cotton zone
8.15% and in the central zone 6.5% wheat area undergone to BT
cotton. Similarly, 4.5% area of sugar cane from cotton zone and 1.5%
in central zone shifted to BT cotton. Out of the total sampled farmers,
70% wheat growers and 28% sugarcane growers showed their interest
to shift some areas from their respective crops to BT cotton. Thus, there
were the chances that textile sector will groom but in future, it will
create food insecurity problem.