At a time when Bt cotton hybrids are ruling the roost,re-introducing non-Bt varieties may seem like a regressive step. But the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) here,in tandem with the agriculture department of Maharashtra government and Centrally-sponsored Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs),is undertaking an experiment called high-density planting system (HDPS) of non-Bt varieties in Vidarbha to provide rain-fed farmers with shallow-soil farms a low-cost,low-risk and high-yielding alternative. Not to be left behind,the Bt industry has undertaken its own HDPS experiment with leading seed company Nuziweedu becoming a partner in a public-private partnership initiative of the government. By December,the results of both will be there for all to see. HDPS is all about cultivating more plants per acre and reducing their foliage with growth regulators in order to achieve early maturity and neutralise extra-nutrient pressure on soil. While CICR is doing HDPS with the spacing of 45X10 cm as against the normal 60x30 cm on 160 acres spread over eight districts,Nuziveedu has shrunk its spacing from the recommended 120x30 cm,150X45 cm and 180x30 cm for different conditions to about 120x30 cm on 10,000 acres in three districts. In addition to 7,500 rain-fed and 2,000 drip-irrigated acres,Nuziveedu is also undertaking HDPS with mulching (plastic film separation between rows to prevent weeds) over 500 hectares of drip-irrigated area. The CICR plans to increase the HDPS area to 5,000 hectares by 2015. It is also undertaking experimental cultivation of near-extinct local varieties on 80 acres to boost surgical cotton (see box). The CICR has chosen three non-Bt varieties Suraj,PKV 081 and NH 651 for HDPS,while Nuziveedu has selected its Mallica,Mallica Gold,Bunny Bt2 and Uttam Bt hybrids. And while the Maharashtra government is helping in implementing the CICR project,farmers in the Nuziveedu experiment are part of the Maharashtra governments new PPP initiative Integrated Agriculture Development programme where farmers will get government subsidy. Says CICR Director Keshav Kranthi: Rain-fed Vidarbhas cotton productivity is low,about 3 quintals per acre despite Bt. Water and nutrient requirements during peak boll-formation phase are most critical for high yields. Rainfall starts in June and recedes in September,leading to low moisture retention in later months. Boll formation and retention get negatively affected due to low soil moisture,especially of Bt,in shallow soils,resulting in low yields. This was seen when production dropped from 355 kg/ha in 2010 (that had rains in October) to 286 kg/ha in 2011 (that had no October rains). HDPS of early maturing varieties takes care of this problem. Good yields can be obtained with dwarf-compact plants at a density of 88,000 plants per acre,as against the Bt density of 5,000 plants,and with low input cost. Moreover,we are using varieties,which help farmers produce their own seeds every year,unlike hybrids that they need to buy every year, he adds. Kranthi cites the example of Brazil that entirely grows HDPS non-Bt in conditions similar as Vidarbha with yields of over 22 quintals per acre. With HDPS,he expects to double the yield from 3 to 7 quintals per acre in one year. On CICR campus farms,we have demonstrated that over the past two years, he says. The CICRs HDPS cost of production comes to Rs 4,525 per acre. B B Gawande,Deputy General Manager (Administration),Nuziveedu,says: We propose to increase the yield from the present stagnant yields of 4-5 quintals to double over 4-5 years and also help the farmer down to the storage and marketing ends. The normal cost of cultivation per acre in rain-fed Bt is about Rs 10,500. It will go up in HDPS to about Rs 14,300. For drip-irrigated farms,it will go to Rs 15,500. Out of this,the government subsidy to farmers will be of Rs 3,600 and Rs 5,100,respectively. We have trained 2,500 farmers in various disciplines of cultivation. We are also training them in using only one bag of fertilisers instead of two,which is a key element. Both CICR and Nuziveedu are going to use growth regulators like lihosin and mepicuat chloride to stunt the plants growth to prevent excessive foliage. Kranthi says non-Bt HDPS has nothing against Bt,which is still a great bet for framers its just another option for rain-fed,shallow soils. Gawande says Nuziveedus isnt a response to what CICR is doing. Bt is still the best bet against bollworm that causes 80 per cent of cotton loss. People will see both results and farmers are the best judges, he says. Asked how he plans to counter bollworm attack in non-Bt varieties,Kranthi says,bollworm attack occurs in late-maturing hybrids. The ones we are using mature in less than 170 days. He,however,welcomes Nuziveedu initiative. We need to do everything to see that farmers get the best of options. Back to Desi basics Area under desi cotton was 97% in 1947 and is less than 3% at present. Desi cotton species G arboreum are native to India and are highly resistant to drought,insect pests and diseases. Desi cotton is grown only in India and several high-yielding short-staple coarse-fibre varieties are best suited for surgical cotton. India could have easily created a huge exclusive global market for surgical cotton and organic-surgical-cotton using the native varieties. With decline in area under 'desi' cotton,currently short staple cotton is not available and is in severe short-supply even for domestic use of surgical cotton. It is estimated that 30-40 lakh bales will be required to fulfil the domestic market and more would be needed to plan for export market, says CICR Director Keshav Kranthi. Hence,CICR is also undertaking demo cultivation in Vidarbhas cotton farms with a production cost of Rs 3,195 per acre. It is using two varieties HD 123 and AKA 7. Starting with 80 acres,CICR plans to take the area to 500 hectares by 2015.
