Bt contaminating organic cotton

About 200 farmers affiliated to the Vidarbha Organic Farmers’ Association (VOFA)  in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra did not apply for certification of their cotton produce this year. “Their samples tested positive for Bt contamination,” said Ram Kalaspurkar, secretary of the association that has about 400 members who grow organic cotton, mostly for export.

Many of those who have lost their certification were in A category; farmers who get organic certification for three continuous years are classified under this category.