Soil Health Crisis in Indian Cotton Farming: Need for Regenerative Agriculture Over GM Seeds

Indian Express - Opinion · 4 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Agriculture Mains · GS3 Agriculture High relevance

Experts critique overemphasis on GM seeds for cotton productivity, highlighting severe soil degradation (32% land degraded, 25% facing desertification) as the root cause, necessitating regenerative agriculture and better agronomy.

Key points

Bt Cotton adoption (Bollgard-II) is often credited for India's 88% productivity increase (2002-2013), but data shows yields peaked at 566 kg/ha in 2013-14 before declining to 458 kg/ha by 2026, despite near-total GM adoption.

Soil degradation is the critical issue: FAO reports 32% of Indian land degraded, with soil organic carbon at 0.3-0.6% (below global minimum of 1-1.5%), severely limiting yield potential in cotton-growing states like Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Comparative yields challenge GM dominance: China (2,311 kg/ha) uses same Bt genes as India, while Turkey (1,728 kg/ha) achieves 4x India's yield without GM cotton, proving agronomy and soil health matter more than trait approvals.

Historical context: India's 2002-2011 productivity gains stemmed from multiple factors—Bt adoption, hybrid seed use (38% to 92%), 2.3x fertilizer increase, and irrigated area expansion (2.5M to 4.4M ha)—not GM seeds alone.

[GS3-Agriculture] Law of diminishing returns explains post-2014 decline: Input saturation (fertilizers, irrigation) and soil exhaustion reduced marginal gains, making further yield increases impossible without addressing soil health.

Cotton Technology Mission must prioritize regenerative agriculture (biochar-compost systems), climate-resilient varieties, and mechanization over new GM traits to sustainably improve productivity and farmer incomes.

[GS3-Environment] Desertification in cotton belts (25% of land) connects to climate change adaptation in agriculture, a key GS3 topic on environmental degradation and sustainable farming practices.

Way Forward: India should institutionalize soil carbon restoration programs under the Cotton Technology Mission, promote high-density planting geometries, improve ginning outturn to 39% (global average), and integrate smallholder mechanization to reduce input costs.

Key terms

Bt Cotton

Genetically modified cotton varieties containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes that produce insecticidal proteins to combat bollworms. In India, Bt cotton adoption surged post-2002, but its yield benefits are contested as soil degradation limits long-term gains. UPSC relevance lies in debates over GM crops' role in sustainable agriculture and food security.

Soil Organic Carbon

A measure of carbon stored in soil organic matter, critical for fertility, water retention, and crop productivity. Indian soils average 0.3-0.6% SOC (vs 1-1.5% global minimum), directly impacting agricultural output. For UPSC, this connects to GS3 topics on land degradation, climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, and sustainable farming practices.

Regenerative Agriculture

Farming system focusing on soil health restoration through practices like biochar application, composting, and reduced tillage. It addresses India's soil crisis and aligns with GS3's sustainable development and environmental conservation themes, offering climate-resilient solutions for cotton farming.

Cotton Technology Mission

A government initiative to enhance cotton productivity through research, extension, and market linkages. Its redesign towards soil health and agronomy (rather than GM traits) is crucial for UPSC's agriculture and rural development topics in GS3, exemplifying evidence-based policy shifts.