I compiled the data from various sources and databases. In my view, these represent the actual pesticide use scenario.

The recent increase in insecticide usage on cotton is also because of increase in area apart from the fact that several Bt-hybrids are susceptible to sucking pests. I preferred to present the pesticide situation in terms of the net value rather than the volumes. However, the data may need normalization in consonance with inflation rates.

The quantity of pesticide generally shown in litres or Kgs do not actually represent the correct trends. The new generation insecticides are recommended to be used at 100-200 ml per hectare with 10-50 gms active ingredient in them, as compared to the conventional insecticides which were used at 3-5 litres per hectare with 500 gm to 2 kg active ingredient. Insecticides such as BHC were recommended at 15 to 20 kg per hectare. Therefore, the net insecticide quantity per hectare would get reduced significantly, despite the fact that farmers may have spent more.

 

Year	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
% Bt Cotton				0.38	1.2	5.59	11.51	41.42	67.1	80.8	82.43	90.67
cotton, Insecticide	879	839	1052	597	925	1032	649	579	733	791	834	880
Cotton fungicide	11	10	6	3	8	6	8	11	25	31	52	67
Cotton herbicide	2	1	1	1	3	4	8	12	22	26	45	87
Total Insecticides in Agrl.	2128	2052	2268	1683	2146	2455	2086	2223	2880	3282	3909	4283
% share of cotton	41	41	46	35	43	42	31	26	25	25	21	21
Total Pesticides in Agrl.	3004	2972	3207	2622	3147	3581	2439	3396	4697	5293	6999	7684