http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
Introduction of Biotechnology in India’s Agriculture
XXIX, 272 p. 41 illus. in color. online resource.
Biotechnology can bring major breakthroughs in agriculture. The book examines the experience of introduction of biotechnology in Indian agriculture, specifically, examining the performance of Bt cotton versus non-Bt cotton across India’s major cotton states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which together account for nearly 70 percent of the country’s cotton production. Major advances in biotechnology have made it possible to directly identify genes, determine their functions, and transfer them from one organism to another. The advances have spawned many technologies and Bt cotton is one important outcome. Bt cotton has become one of the most widely cultivated transgenic crops and is currently grown in 21 countries - 11 developing and 10 industrialized countries. The Government of India was relatively late in permitting biotechnology, only approving the cultivation of three transgenic Bt cotton hybrids from April 2002. Many concerns were raised about their performance there was strong opposition from some quarters. In India, Gujarat and Maharastra were the first states to adopt them, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Based on a sample of 694 farming households, the book examines and analyzes the performance on the yields, pesticide costs, seed costs, overall production costs and profits. It also reports on the environmental impacts, satisfaction with the technology and ways of improving its performance.
1. Introduction and objectives of the study -- 2. An overview of cotton in India -- 3. Development and adoption of Bt Cotton -- 4.Sampling and methodology of the study across the states -- 5. Nature and performance of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton -- 6. Economics of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton across the states -- 7. Farmers’ perceptions on various features of Bt Cotton -- 8. Overall summary and conclusions -- 9. Cotton cultivation in Andhra Pradesh -- 10. Sampling and methodology -- 11. Nature and performance of Bt Cotton vs non-Bt Cotton In Andhra Pradesh -- 12. Economics of Bt Cotton vs non-Bt Cotton In Andhra Pradesh -- 13. Farmers’ perceptions on various features of Bt Cotton in Andhra Pradesh -- 14. Cotton cultivation in Gujarat -- 16.Nature and performance of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton in Gujarat -- 17. Economics of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton in Gujarat -- 18. Farmers’ perceptions on various features of Bt Cotton in Gujarat -- 19. Cotton cultivation in Maharashtra -- 20. Sampling and methodology -- 21. Nature and performance of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton in Maharashtra -- 22. Economics of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton in Maharashtra -- 23. Farmers’ perceptions on various features of Bt Cotton in Maharashtra -- 24. Cotton cultivation in Tamil Nadu -- 25. Sampling and methodology -- 26. Nature and performance of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton in Tamil Nadu -- 27. Economics of Bt Cotton vs. non-Bt Cotton in Tamil Nadu -- 28. Farmers’ perceptions on various features of Bt Cotton in Tamil Nadu -- References. <chapter 15="" :="" sampling="" and="" methodology.