Issue Date: May 15, 2001 Cotton, grown on just five per cent of
Indian agricultural land, consumes more than 50 per cent of the
total pesticides used in India. Cotton gowers rely heavily on
pesticides to control insects, diseases weeds and growth
regulators. The intensive use of pesticides endangers human
health as well as soil health, agro-ecology, leads to reduced
profits for the farmers and creates an avoidable monoculture.
Organic cotton is the solution.