ગુજરાતી
English
Dilip Patel
Ahmedabad, June 8, 2024 (Google translation from Gujarati)
36 percent of BT cotton was found to be adulterated. Fake BT and climate change have led to a decline in cotton production. In 10 years, Rs 2 crore per farmer has been lost in cotton production. Due to fake seeds and reduced production due to natural causes, 2 lakh farmers of Gujarat have suffered heavy losses.
The price of a bale is Rs. 90 thousand to Rs. 1 lakh. Thus, the income from agriculture has decreased significantly in the production of Rs. 36 thousand crore. If calculated for 10 years, then Rs. 2 lakh crore production has decreased. Due to price fluctuations and natural and disease, there may be 10 times more loss than this.
52 percent cotton fell in Sabarkantha
80 percent seeds in Sabarkantha have been found to be unauthorized BT seeds. Thus, Sabarkantha has become the center of fake BT cotton in Gujarat. In 2021-22, cotton was planted in 48 thousand hectares in Sabarkantha. 10 years ago, cotton was planted in 1 lakh 5 thousand hectares. 10 years ago Idar 17,189 Vadali 4,000 Himmatnagar 21,500 Bhiloda 4,500 Vijaynagar 1,280 Modasa 8,500 Meghraj 2,500 Malpur 5,000 Baid, 0501, 0507 In 10 years, plants have been planted in a total of 1 lakh 5 thousand hectares.
Inspection of 2204 traders
The state agriculture department’s 39 lower level teams and 19 state level teams of the state government raided for two days to catch adulteration. 2204 traders of 59 producers, 848 seed sellers, 547 fertilizer sellers and 750 drug sellers were inspected.
A total of 711 samples were taken, including 524 of seeds, 105 of fertilizers and 82 of medicines. Sent for analysis to state approved laboratories.
GM irregularities
Out of 524 seed samples, 324 samples were of cotton. Out of which 116 samples were suspected to be genetically modified and unauthorized cotton. Out of 24 cotton samples taken in Sabarkantha district, 19 samples were suspected to be unauthorized genetically modified cotton.
So far, analysis of 110 such samples has confirmed 101 and 9 have not been confirmed. Analysis of 634 samples is ongoing.
During the campaign, 1,39,970 kg of gram seeds, 175 metric tonnes of fertilizers and 1320 kg/liter of medicines were seized, whose estimated value is Rs 6.15 crore.
In view of the deficiencies, 483 notices have also been issued by 19 state level squads.
What did you do in 5 years?
3621 kg of hybrid BT cotton was seized by a seed firm in Jawanpura, Idar, Sabarkantha 5 years ago. 8048 packets of fake seeds weighing 450 grams of different companies were seized.
There was a firm named Umiya Seeds Company. A complaint has been lodged against Mahesh Reva Patel and Dinesh Reva Patel in Idar police station. Samples were sent for testing. The warehouse was sealed. But what happened next did not come to light for 5 years.
13 years ago, BT cotton seeds were produced from Kalan cotton seeds.
The system has gone haywire after the samples turned out to be substandard. The maximum sale of BT cotton seeds in the district is in Vadali, Idar and Himmatnagar talukas. The maximum production of seeds also takes place in these talukas.
Earlier, cases of crop loss due to fake seeds have come to light against many farmers who sowed BT seeds. However, the Deputy Director of Agriculture of the district saves them.
Complaints of fake BT cotton seeds being sold in Sabarkantha district and farmers being duped by some traders were increasing day by day.
After checking and adjusting the settings everything shows ‘Sab Safe’. If a sample of 50 seeds is taken, 1 fails. Whatever is released in the court.
Employment
The cotton industry employs 6 crore people in the country. In Gujarat, 1 crore people earn their livelihood from agriculture and cotton-textile industry.
Plantation reduced
Cotton was sown in 20 percent of the fields of Gujarat, now it has come down to 16 percent. 18 percent of the cotton cultivation in the country was done in Gujarat, which is decreasing. 25 percent of the country’s production was done in Gujarat.
Surendranagar has the highest cotton cultivation of 3 lakh 35 thousand hectares and 12 lakh bales. Amreli is in second place with 3 lakh 8 thousand hectares and 9 lakh 60 thousand bales.
Somnath has the highest cotton production per hectare in Gujarat at 981 kg. Vadodara is second with 834 kg. 8 out of 33 districts are the biggest crop of cotton. The second largest cotton producing district is 10.
At one time, 1 crore 20 lakh bales of cotton were produced in Gujarat. In which 32 thousand bales have reduced.
In 2019-20, 86 lakh 25 thousand bales were planted in 26 lakh 55 thousand hectares. In 2021-22, 22 lakh 25 thousand hectares of land was reduced to 73 lakh 88 thousand bales. The productivity was 552 kg. It has become 559 kg. These figures are of irrigated and non-irrigated fields.
In 1995-96, the production in 14 lakh hectares was 22 lakh bales and 263 kg per hectare.
In 2005-2006, 20 lakh hectares were sown with 68 lakh 72 thousand bales giving a production of 581 kg per hectare.
In 2014-15, 28 lakh hectares were sown and 92 lakh bales gave a production of 544 kg per hectare.
Thus, cotton cultivation has reduced by 5 lakh hectares. Production has increased from 1.10 crore bales to 74 lakh bales. Gujarat farmers have suffered a loss of 36 lakh bales.
The price of one bale has gone up from Rs. 90 thousand to Rs. 1 lakh. Thus, due to a reduction of Rs. 36 thousand crore in production, agriculture has suffered a huge loss of income. If calculated for 10 years, the loss will be Rs. 2 lakh crore.
Production has decreased.
36 lakh
Gujarat farmers have suffered loss of bales. In 10 years, Rs per farmer. 2 lakh farmers of Gujarat have suffered loss of cotton production.
Politics of votes
In the Sabarkantha Lok Sabha seat 2024 election, Bharatiya Janata Party was the winner by a margin of 1 lakh 55 thousand. Bharatiya Janata Party got 6 lakh 77 thousand and Congress got 5 lakh 22 thousand votes. (Google translation from Gujarati)
