New Delhi: Contrary to the perception that youngsters are abandoning farming, Bt cotton has attracted young farmers to cotton farming in the country, a survey by Indian Society for Cotton Improvement (ISCI) said.
The survey confirmed wide-spread planting of Bt cotton, occupying 95% of total cotton area, in the rainfed, semi-irrigated and irrigated areas, which has taken place during the last 8-9 years in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and 6-7 years in Punjab, ISCI said in a release.
"Bt cotton technology attracted young farmers to cotton farming, with more than 50% of the surveyed farmers coming from the lower middle age group in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab," the report said.
The report covered 2,400 small holder farmers across the three agro-ecologically distinct cotton growing states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.
"More than 50% of respondent Bt cotton farmers were from the lower middle age group ranging from 21 to 40 years with a mean average age of 42 years for all respondents in the three surveyed states," it added.
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