Farmers express support for Bt Cotton

Farmers belonging to the Naujawan Kisan Club on Saturday expressed concern at the interim report of the technical expert committee of the Supreme Court that has recommended a review of the benefits of Bt Cotton. The farmers stated that cotton farming has improved over the past 10 years and they had benefited from hybrid cotton seeds and Bt cotton technologies.

Ravi Kant,secretary of the club,said that of the input cost of the cotton farmers,almost 25 per cent is on weedicide. He said that Bt cotton has reduced sprays for bollworms and the yield has improved.

Prof I S Dua,Professor Emeritus,Panjab University said that the committee should take the view of the farmers before taking any decision.

He said there was a need for accepting new technologies to help the farmers.