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BT COTTON

Definition
Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically modified pest resistant
plant cotton variety, which produce an insecticide to bollworm. It contains a toxic gene called
Bt gene and the Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis. With the help of genetic engineering the
gene is inserted into the cotton seed. Bt cotton was created by genetically altering the cotton
genome to express a microbial protein from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis.

INTRODUCTION
Cotton is a natural fibre that finds use in many products. These range from clotting to home
furnishings to medical products. As a result, cotton is always in demand though its use is
subject to the strengths and weaknesses of the overall economy. Cotton production supports
the largest industrial sector comprising textile mills, spindles, garments units, dying and
finishing units etc.

About 10 years ago Monsanto scientists inserted a toxic gene from the bacterium coiled
bacillus thuringiensis into cotton plants to create a caterpillar resistant variety. The gene is
DNA that carries the instructions for producing a toxic protein. It was first introduced
commercially in 1996.
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Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram positive, soil dwelling bacterium commonly used as a
pesticide. Additionally bacillus thuringiensis also occurs naturally in the gut of caterpillars of
various types of moths and butterflies as well as on the dark surface of plants. Genetically
modified cotton i.e. Bt cotton was developed to reduce the heavy reliance on pesticides. The
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis naturally produces a chemical harmful only to a small
fraction of insects most notably the boll worms. The gene coding for BT toxin has been
inserted into cotton, causing cotton to produce this natural insecticide in its tissues. In many
regions the main pests in commercial cotton are boll worms, which are supposed to be killed
by the BT protein in the transgenic cotton that they eat.

BT cotton eliminates the need to use large amounts of broad spectrum insecticides to kill
bollworms some of which have developed pyrethroid resistance. BT cotton is however
ineffective against many cotton pests such as plant bugs, stink bugs, aphids and viruses etc.
Depending on circumstances it may still be needed to use insecticides against these pests.

BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDE:
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BT is one of the most common microorganisms used in insecticides to control target insects
using an environment benign, biologically-based agent. Bts are naturally occurring and are
common in soil and on plant leaves and are biodegradable.
BT is biological insecticide that:
 Is harmless to humans, birds and other beneficial wildlife.
 Creates toxins lethal to many pest and disease carrying insect species, such as
caterpillar, beetle and mosquito larvae.
 Is rod shaped microorganism that produces protein toxins during sporulation.
 Provides insecticidal properties through commercial bt products. These commercial bt
products contain protein toxin crystals or a mixture of crystals and bt spores.

WORKING OF BT:

Bts contain protein endotoxin crystals and living spores. With insect populations the protein
endotoxin act as a selective stomach poison. Spores contribute to their toxicity by causing
blood poisoning and providing persistence in the insects system. When an insect pest ingests
the crystal proteins from the leaves treated with bt, feeding stops within the minutes after the
crystals are made soluble in the gut and gut cells are damaged. After toxin damage to the gut
occurs, spores enter through gut wall and germinate rapidly in the body cavity causing blood
poisoning. Larvae stop feeding on the crops within minutes and die in 1 to 3 days. The
affected larvae move slowly, discolor, then shrivel, blacken and die. Smaller larvae die more
quickly, suggests indicating that precise timing can measurably improve the performance of
bt application.
Some pest species are difficult to control with toxin alone.
Germinating bt spores provide an additional control mechanism:
 Spores germinate in midgut and spread throughout, ultimately causing septicaemia
and death.
 Additional mortality is especially apparent in army worm larvae, which can be
difficult to control with toxin alone.
 Products with viable spores such as DiPel and XenTari have distinct advantages on
products without spores.
Bt toxin basically dissolve in the high pH insect gut and becomes active. The toxin attack the
gut cells of insects, punching holes in lining. The bt spores spills out of the gut and cause the
death of insect.
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Bt spores don’t spread to other insects or cause disease outbreaks on their own. Bt action is
very specific. Different strains of bt are specific to different receptors in insect gut wall. Bt
toxicity depends on recognizing receptor, damage to the gut by toxin occurs upon binding to
receptor. Eact insect species possesses different types of receptors that will match only
certain toxin proteins like a lock to a key.

MISSION
The mission of the study is to analyse the economics of different irrigated and less irrigated
crops in different states utilising the cost of cultivation data published by the Commission for
Agriculture of Costs and Price (CACP).

The specific mission of the study are;

1. To find out profitability of cereal crops cultivated under irrigated and less irrigated
condition.
2. To study the profitability of pulse crops cultivated under irrigated and less irrigated
condition.
3. To study the profitability of oilseed crops cultivated under irrigated and less irrigated
condition.
4. To study the profitability of high value crops such as sugarcane and cotton cultivated
under irrigated and less irrigated condition.
5. To find out the factors that is influencing the profitability of various crops.
6. To suggest measures to improve the profitability of crop cultivation.

SEGMENTATION AND TARGETING

 Segmentation refers to dividing the markets into segments of customers.

 Available worldwide.
 Adults, young people, kids, aged people.
 Labs, hospitals, beauty products, industries and textiles.
BUSINESS PORTFOLIO:
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With the help of Bt gene we can produce other products;

1. Bt maize
2. Bt wheat
3. Bt soyabean
4. Bt potato
5. Bt brinjal
6. Bt tomato
7. Bt corn

MARKETING MIX:

Marketing is based on 4 pillars known as 4ps.

Its includes
 Price
 Product
 Place
 Promotion

PRODUCT:

Bt Cotton

PRICE:

Rs 1100 per maund

PLACE:

Available worldwide

PROMOTION:
 Through print media
 Through electronic media
 Through social media

SWOT Analysis:
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SWOT analysis refers to main factors such as Strengths,

Weaknesses, opportunities, Threats.

STRENGHTS:
Bt cotton is ecofriendly because it reduces the amount of pesticide used on
cotton.
Bt cotton is more efficient than normal cotton crops because it can produce higher yields on
smaller plots of land.
Potential reduction in the cost of cultivation.
No health hazards due to rare use of insecticides.
WEAKNESS:

High cost of bt cotton seeds as compared to non bt cotton.

Effectiveness up to 120 days, after the toxin producing efficiency of the bt gene dramatically
reduces.
Ineffectiveness against sucking pests like jassids, aphids, whitefly etc.
OPPORTUNITIES:

The bt cotton can give more profit than non bt cotton

because of its pest resistant ability.
It can be more profitable because farmers wont need to waste their money on different types
of pest resistant sprays.
Its more beneficial because it can produce higher yields.
Bt cotton reduces energy use.

THREATS:

Although there is a large scale adaptation of bt cotton by farmers

because of immediate financial gain but bt crops release bt toxin which reduces soil chemical
activities.
Bt cotton seeds are bit expensive than non bt cotton.
Bt cotton needs more water than non bt cotton.
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