India: GM Cotton Boosts Punjab Textile Industry

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|5 January 2007

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton in northern India is improving Punjab’s textile industry as the availability of better quality cotton in the local market and its use in the production line have increased the per capita productivity of looms, according to an article in Business Standard.

The new Bollgard technology has helped jumpstart the revival of cotton in the region, which has traditionally been ravaged by under severe bollworm infestations. Textile industry sources report that about 70% of the total cotton is Bt cotton, and that its use is increasing. Some of the textile units are exploring contract farming opportunities for getting quality supplies of cotton.