Rising Use of Unapproved HTBt Cotton; Study Estimates Coverage at 24-30% of Area
New Delhi: Despite the lack of official approval for Herbicide-Tolerant Bt (HTBt) cotton in India, a new field study claims that its usage among farmers is expanding. The study estimates that unapproved HTBt cotton seeds were used across approximately 6.5–7.2 million acres during the 2025-26 Kharif season. This represents an estimated 24–30% of the country's total cotton cultivation area.
The South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) conducted this study in collaboration with the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and the National Seed Association of India (NSAI). It covered 16 cotton-producing districts across Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The study involved farmer surveys, an assessment of the seed supply chain, and laboratory testing of cotton samples.
HTBt cotton is a variant of Bt cotton that possesses the additional trait of herbicide tolerance. This allows for the use of herbicides like glyphosate for weed control. According to the study, the cost of weed control using glyphosate is approximately ₹750–850 per acre, whereas manual weeding can cost between ₹12,000 and ₹15,000. Labor shortages and rising labor costs have been cited as key reasons for its spread.
The study reports HTBt usage levels of 58%, 66%, and 49% in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, respectively; these figures are based on the study's estimates. According to the report, the estimated size of the informal HTBt seed market is ₹820–880 crore. The study also notes a 22.3% decline in the sales of legal Bollgard-II seeds between 2022 and 2026.
Meanwhile, the decline in cotton production in India remains a cause for concern. According to government data, cotton production has fallen from 35.2 million bales in 2020-21 to an estimated 29.1 million bales in 2025-26. Productivity also dropped from 451 kg per hectare to 431 kg per hectare during the same period. To boost cotton productivity, the government has approved a 'Cotton Productivity Mission' worth ₹5,659 crore.
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