A Critique on the Paper 'Agricultural Biotechnology and Crop Productivity: Macro-Level Evidences on Contribution of Bt Cotton in India'

This paper is a critique of Srivastava and Kolady who reported a macro analysis of the benefits of Bt cotton in India using state wide average data. The analysis is in error with respect to the economic benefits, biological underpinnings, and the effects of Bt cotton technology adoption on resource-poor farmers growing rain fed cotton. Viable non GMO high density cotton alternatives that increase yields, reduce cost of production, and give higher net average returns were ignored. The authors argue for biotechnology adoption in other crops in India without providing data or analysis.