Input Utilization Pattern and Cost and Returns in Bt Cotton Production

The present study was conducted in Dharwad, Davanagere, Gadag and Mysore districts during the year 2011. These districts are selected based on highest area under Bt cotton cultivation and these districts incidentally represents all the agro climatic zones of the state. The total sample size for the study was 5000. The findings of the study revealed that, average expenditure on seeds was higher (Rs.3368.2/ha) in Bt cotton than in non-Bt cotton (Rs.1746.85/ha) farms and quantity of organic manure used in Bt (3.58 t/ha) and non-Bt (3.29 t/ha) farms was almost same. While, use of organic manure and chemical fertilizers was higher for non-Bt cotton than Bt-cotton by about 0.2 t/ha and 30.33 kg/ha, respectively and cost incurred on chemical fertilizers and organic manure was higher in non-Bt (Rs.3949.2/ha) than that in Bt (Rs. 3792.4/ha) farms. Further, there was a significant difference in expenditure on plant protection chemicals (PPC's) between Bt (Rs. 6031.56/ha) and non-Bt (Rs. 9801.79/ha) farmers. During 2001–02 the per cent share of cotton in total NPK consumption increased to 6.62 per cent from 5.59 per cent and 2002–03 onwards the share is between 3.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent of the total NPK utilization in the state. In Dharwad district, the consumption of insecticide in cotton came down from 115675 (2000–01) liters to 31795 liters during the year 2010–11. Similarly, in Gadag and Mysore districts the share of cotton in total insecticide consumption came down from 60 per cent and 36 per cent (2005) to 26.7 per cent and 6.12 per cent, respectively during 2010–11.