Context:
The cotton industry in Northern India is grappling with significant difficulties caused by whiteflies and pink bollworms.
Key Issues Related to Cotton Production
- Cotton cultivation in Punjab dropped from 8 lakh hectares three decades ago to just 1 lakh hectares in 2024.
- The decline in cotton production has severely impacted the ginning industry.
- Operational ginning units in Punjab reduced from 422 in 2004 to just 22.
- Farmers are advocating for the approval of Bollgard-3, a genetically modified (GM) cotton variety with improved pest resistance.
About Bollgard-3
- Bollgard-3: New pest-resistant GM cotton variety developed by Monsanto over a decade ago.
- Purpose: Provides better resistance against insect pests, especially pink bollworm and other lepidopteran pests.
- Features of Bollgard-3:
- Contains three Bt proteins: Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, and Vip3A.
- Proteins kill pests by disrupting their gut function.
- More effective than Bollgard-2, which contains only two Bt proteins (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab).
- How does Bollgard-3 Work?:
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): Naturally occurring soil bacterium with insecticidal properties.
- Bt genes inserted into cotton plants produce proteins toxic to pests.
- Pests consume the plant, proteins damage their digestive system, leading to their death.
- About Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, and Vip3A:
- Cry1Ab: Kills caterpillars (lepidopteran pests) like corn borers and bollworms.
- Cry1Ac: More effective against bollworms, especially pink bollworm.
- Vip3A: Newer Bt protein targeting a broader range of pests, including armyworms.
- More powerful against pests resistant to Cry1Ac.
Why is Bollgard-3 Important for India?
- Current Bt Cotton (Bollgard-2) is Losing Effectiveness:
- Introduced in 2006 but no longer effective against pink bollworm due to pest resistance.
- Reduces Dependency on Pesticides:
- Lowers pesticide use, reducing costs and health risks for farmers.
- Increases Yield and Profitability:
- Enhances cotton productivity and reduces crop losses due to pests.
- Regulatory Challenges:
- Not Yet Approved in India: Used in other countries but awaiting approval from India’s regulatory bodies.
- Past Approvals:
- Bollgard-1 (2002): Approved as a single-gene technology by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).
- Bollgard-2 (2006): Approved as a double-gene technology.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of
[UPSC CSE – 2021 Prelims]
(a) clonal propagation of crop plants
(b) developing genetically modified crop plants
(c) production of plant growth substances
(d) production of biofertilizers
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Bollgard I Bt cotton (single-gene technology) is India’s first biotech crop technology approved for commercialization in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard II – double-gene technology in mid-2006, by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the Indian regulatory body for biotech crops.