Bt cotton, adopted as a solution to curb losses caused by bollworms and to reduce the use of pesticides, successfully brought about a decline in pesticide consumption and expenditure, increase in productivity along with a higher output-input ratio in Punjab in 2004-05. Despite increased productivity and reduced pesticide use, Bt cotton is expected to increase the incidence of primary bollworms, which could develop resistance and secondary pests. But the undesirable, indirect and unanticipated consequences of innovation go together, as do the desirable, direct and anticipated consequences.
