In response to the rising infestation of pink bollworm (PBW) in Maharashtra, emergency measures have been put in place by the state government. These include the formulation of a team in each district and a range of compensation schemes aimed at supporting small farmers. The situation has called for seed companies to take responsibility for compensations, and a resolution to that effect has been passed.
The Background: India’s Unique Pink Bollworm Infestation
Amongst the nations cultivating Bt cotton, India is unique in experiencing issues with PBW infestation. Unlike other species of bollworm which can attack various crops, PBW is strictly a threat to cotton plants alone. During October, the infestation reaches its peak. This is primarily when the crop matures and is near the phase of first flush pickings. Unseasonal rains have further aggravated the problem.
The Recommended Solution: RIB Concept
In order to combat this issue, the Union Government has recommended the implementation of the Refugia In Bag (RIB) concept. This involves mixing 25 grams of non-Bt Cotton seed with 450 grams of Bt Cotton seeds. The objective of this strategy is to prevent or slow down the development of Bt-resistant insects. The introduction of non-BT cotton, which acts as a refuge, hosts PBW wild insects to thwart the resistance build-up in PBW. Notably, the National Seeds Association of India (NSAI) also supports this method.
Farmers’ Concerns around Infestation
The PBW infestation has raised significant concerns amongst farmers, who anticipate a minimum of 10% reduction in the area under cotton farming. This expected decrease in cultivation is likely to result in low yield and a significant drop in prices.
Peculiarity of India’s case
Why is the infestation scenario unique for India? It turns out that the PBW grew resistant in the country mainly because India has been cultivating long-duration hybrids since introducing Bt cotton in 2002. Unlike India, other Bt cotton-growing countries like China and the US mostly grow open-pollinated cotton varieties. This variation in cultivation method could explain why PBW in India became resilient to toxins.
The Way Forward: NSAI’s Suggested Measures
The NSAI has promoted the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program as a solution. IPM includes crop rotation, biological control of insects with the assistance of insects and parasites that devour pink bollworms, and destruction of crop residue and trash in the field. Alongside this, NSAI has recommended returning to Bollgard farming. It also encourages farmers to shift to short-duration crop varieties swiftly. Although developing open-pollinated varieties with BG-2 is not feasible for seed companies, developing them with BG is possible as Monsanto did not patent BG in India.
Understanding Pink Bollworm (PBW)
The pink bollworm, scientifically known as Pectinophora gossypiella, is widely recognized as a pest in cotton farming. Originating from Asia, this insect has become invasive in most of the world’s cotton-growing regions, including parts of India. There, the pink bollworm is now resistant to the first generation of transgenic Bt cotton, which expresses a single Bt gene (Cry1Ac). Part of the concern includes an admission by Monsanto that this variety of cotton is ineffective against the pink bollworm in some parts of Gujarat, India.