Question: In year 2017-18, with adoption of Bt. Cotton the improved productivity of cotton was?
(a) 477 kg/hectare
(b) 500 kg/hectare
(c) 800 kg/hectare
(d) 1000 kg/hectare
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- Minister of State for Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala notified that the productivity of cotton increased from 191 kg per hectare in 2002-03 to 477 kg per hectare in 2017-18 due to adoption of Bt. cotton in the Country.
- This has also increased the production of cotton from 86.21 lakh bales in 2002-03 to 348.88 lakh bales in 2017-18. There is a well established regulatory framework for approval of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in the Country.
- Evaluation of each application of GM crop is done on a case-to-case basis after a thorough examination of health, environment, food and feed safety assessment studies undertaken in a systematic and scientific manner as per set of rules stipulated by various regulatory agencies under the Rules, 1989 from time to time.
GM Crops:
- Genetically Modified crops are crops whose DNA are modified using genetic engineering methods which most of the time introduces a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally. It is used to provide resistance to certain diseases, pests etc. which leads to increase in the harvest of crops.
Links:
http://www.pib.nic.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1559075
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_crops