As per report of International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, 2018, India ranks 5th in global cultivation of GM crops. Bt. cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in the Country. The State wise area under Bt. cotton cultivation during last three years is at Annexure-I.
The approval of any new genetically modified crop is given on a case to case basis after thorough scientific evaluation of health and environment safety as per applicable guidelines made under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules, 1989.
Annexure-I
State wise area under Bt. cotton cultivation during last three years:
(Area in lakh hectare)
|
STATE
|
2015-16
|
2016-17
|
2017-18
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
6.50
|
4.59
|
6.41
|
|
Telangana
|
16.61
|
13.80
|
18.84
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
4.86
|
5.39
|
4.82
|
|
Gujarat
|
26.23
|
20.25
|
22.49
|
|
Maharashtra
|
34.40
|
32.35
|
37.86
|
|
Karnataka
|
4.87
|
3.03
|
4.50
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
0.99
|
1.08
|
1.80
|
|
Punjab
|
3.33
|
2.43
|
2.86
|
|
Haryana
|
5.27
|
3.64
|
6.21
|
|
Rajasthan
|
3.56
|
2.87
|
4.96
|
|
Total Area
|
106.62
|
89.43
|
110.75
|
Source: Directorate of Cotton Development, Nagpur
This Information was given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
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APS/RCS