The modified cotton industry is creating a substantial number of jobs for women in India, it has been claimed.

According to a study by researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK and Germany's University of Goettingen, the introduction of genetically-modified Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Bt) cotton has substantially boosted rural employment.

They noted that the commercialization of the insect-resistant plant has improved work opportunities for hired women laborers in particular, boosting average pay for this demographic by 55 per cent because of higher yields.

Led by Dr Arjunan Subramanian of Warwick Manufacturing Group, the study also revealed that the cotton has helped to raise income for employees in the countryside by $40 per hectare, with an estimated 7.6 million hectares being cultivated in India by 2008.

In related news, the Indian government is considering extending the range of available employment rights to those in domestic work and including the sector in its central list of scheduled roles.

Posted by Lee Thrace