Why is it in the news?
Cotton becoming loss-making → farmers shifting to paddy
Category: Economy / Agriculture
Important Points:
● Pink Bollworm resistance → Bt Cotton failure
● Yield drop: 10–12 quintals → 3–4 quintals per acre
● Avg loss: ₹15,143 per acre (Haryana data)
● Area reduced: 0.72 mn ha → 0.40 mn ha
● MSP gap: farmers forced to sell below MSP
● Shift to water-intensive paddy → groundwater crisis
● Cotton = “White Gold” (major commercial crop)
● India: 2nd largest producer, largest area globally
● 95% area under Bt cotton
● Major zones: North, Central, South
● Provides livelihood to ~6 million farmers