The production of Bt cotton has gone up from 7.50 lakh bales in 2002 to 21 lakh bales in 2013, showing its mass acceptance in the state, said Baljinder Singh Nandra, general manager, corporate affairs (North India), Monsanto, during a special visit to the Centre of Excellence at Shekhpura village here today. Nandra said the cotton yield averaged 604.4 kg per hectare in the last decade against 304 kg per hectare during 1993-2001. As a result, the country's cotton production had gone up to 375 lakh bales in 2013 from 136 lakh bales in 2002-03. Cotton exports stood at 129.57 lakh bales in 2011-12 even as the country had been importing cotton till 2001, he said. He said: "Indian farmers' choice to plant hybrid cotton seed with insect protection (Bt cotton) over 90 per cent of area under cotton cultivation is testament to the value created by better seed, technology and farming practices." More than 600 farmers during the past fortnight have visited the Centre of Excellence farm which is exhibiting its first agricultural produce of cotton crop since the Punjab Government allotted 18.9 acres of land to Monsanto earlier this year. Arun Gopalakrishna, a senior manager, said: "The centre is working on innovations to increase production. The maize production in Punjab was 34 quintals per acre as compared to 90 quintals per acre in the US. We have set a deadline of 2030 to show results, particularly in cotton, maize and vegetables." Dr Ranjit Thakur, technology development manager, Monsanto, said: "The farmers are happy with a sizable reduction in the number of times they have to spray their cotton crop (32 times on an average) when they planted normal varieties. We are not promoting any particular company for seed. More than 40 seed selling firms are in the market. Farmers are free to make their choice." ‘Concerns remain’ Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission, said: "The Bt varieties have many unanswered questions, mainly on health hazards as was evident from the refusal to accept the Bt variety of soya by China recently." He said China had decided not to continue with a programme to developed genetically modified rice and corn. "This technology uses herbicides, which, if employed extensively, is harmful. Why is Monsanto pushing for hybrids when it is proved that high-density planting of cotton can yield more,” he asked. He alleged it was shocking to see that even university experts were promoting Bt varieties under government pressure.