The pink bollworm is back with a vengeance.
This insect was a serious concern for cotton in India.the fact is that the worm is happily chewingup Bollgard-II-Bt-cotton which contains two genes (cry1Ac+cry2Ab) that were supposed to be highly effective in controlling the pest. Studies conductedby ICAR-CICR (Central Institute for Cotton Research,Nagpur) over the past two years, clearly showed that the pink bollworm developed resistance to two Cry toxins deployed in Bollgard-II. What should be the next step to make cotton farming profitable?
Dear Mr. Vishal Kothari,
The attached article is in vernacular language, but it will be useful for you.
Dear Kothari,
The use of transgenic crops has been a risky and not reliable protection in agriculture. Some could quickly make big money and the appearance of resistant populations has been forecasted long time ago. However, there are resistance management and refuge management opportunities for BT crops like this here for Bt corn http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/Management/pdfs/A3857.pdf
I would propose the IPM and also to find the proper natural enemies. Of course, this needs a lot of work and time. Unfortunately, because of the dream of transgenic crops biological control and IPM have been neglected and all the money was poured to biotechnology.
It is time to rise and find the sustainable ways of crop protection.
Dear András,
Thanks for your discussion
You are right transgenic crops are risky but its tough to manage in India because Farmers have very small field to grow and now we already have resistance pink bollworm population now we have to control it. IPM can work if it apply to major field of the crop. for that government should me take action and increase fund to this sector for its development.
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