While Bt Cotton crops are a useful natural pesticide, the range of effectiveness is very limited. Bt Crops only kill a small fraction of insects and pests. While Bt Cotton crops usually manage to deter the most damaging of pests such as the bollworm other smaller insects such as aphids are able to destroy the cotton crops without Bt Cotton effecting them.
Without the major pests as deterrence the smaller insects such as aphids are able to feast on Cotton crops without interference. with less insecticides being used as a result of the implementation of Bt Cotton the aphids can often be nearly as destructive to cotton yields as bollworms. this completely negates the positive effects of Bt Cotton.
While Bt Cotton solves one problem it causes several more to rise in its place and we are forced to ask ourselves is the implementation of Bt Cotton really so important even when it fails at its primary objective of being a pesticide. Hindu times/Priscilla Jebaraj (2010) Bt Cotton ineffective against pest in some parts of Gujarat, Admits Monsanto (Online) (Updated March 6 2010) Available at : http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bt-cotton-ineffective-against-pest-in-parts-of-gujarat-admits-monsanto/article183353.ece (Accessed 1 May 2013)
Without the major pests as deterrence the smaller insects such as aphids are able to feast on Cotton crops without interference. with less insecticides being used as a result of the implementation of Bt Cotton the aphids can often be nearly as destructive to cotton yields as bollworms. this completely negates the positive effects of Bt Cotton.
While Bt Cotton solves one problem it causes several more to rise in its place and we are forced to ask ourselves is the implementation of Bt Cotton really so important even when it fails at its primary objective of being a pesticide. Hindu times/Priscilla Jebaraj (2010) Bt Cotton ineffective against pest in some parts of Gujarat, Admits Monsanto (Online) (Updated March 6 2010) Available at : http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bt-cotton-ineffective-against-pest-in-parts-of-gujarat-admits-monsanto/article183353.ece (Accessed 1 May 2013)