Abstract :
The performance regarding Bt technology and its impact on farming community have been assessed in Middle Gujarat based mainly on primary data using tabular analysis. The farmer’s perceptions on the impact of Bt cotton technology on various dimensions were ascertained and analyzed in terms of “positiveâ€, “neutral†and “negativeâ€. The impact of Bt cotton, as perceived by the farmers, has been in terms of enhanced yield; reduced pest and disease incidence; increased income, employment, education and standard of living; and reduced health risk. To foster adoption, availability of quality and quantity of Bt cotton seed to farmers needs greater attention of development agencies, while researchers’ attention is called for incorporating resistance/ tolerance to Spodoptera and pink bollworms. The major production, marketing and economic constraints faced by the Bt cotton growers were non-availability of agricultural labour during peak seasons, high incidence of attack from sucking insect-pests and bollworms, fluctuation in the market prices, lack of transportation facilities, high cost of quality Bt seeds and high cost of fertilizers and pesticides.
Keyword :
Bt cotton, Bt technology, Farmer’s perception towards Bt technology, Pink bollworm, Market prices