Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS) Vol. 31, No. 1 (June 2011), pp. 127-134 BT Cotton and its Impact on Cropping Pattern in Punjab Hazoor Muhammad Sabir Associate Professor of Economics, GC University Faisalabad. (Corresponding Author) Email: Hazoor.sabir@yahoo.com Safdar Hussain Tahir Assistant Professor of Banking & Finance, GC University Faisalabad. Email: safdartahir@gmail.com Muhammad Bashir Khan Assistant Professor of Economics, National University of Modern Languages, Multan Campus. Abstract It was the common observation that area under BT cotton was increasing in the recent past. In order to quantify the impact of BT cotton on the existing cropping pattern, this study was conducted. A sample of 300 respondents comprising of small, medium and large category of the farmers was taken from the districts of Vehari, Multan, Bahawalpur (Cotton zone) and Jhang, TTS, Faisalabad (Central Zone). Data pertained to the two consecutive years i.e. 2008-09 and 2009-10. Empirical results revealed that BT cotton area was increasing firstly at the expense of wheat area and sugarcane area secondly. In cotton zone 8.15% and in the central zone 6.5% wheat area undergone to BT cotton. Similarly, 4.5% area of sugar cane from cotton zone and 1.5% in central zone shifted to BT cotton. Out of the total sampled farmers, 70% wheat growers and 28% sugarcane growers showed their interest to shift some areas from their respective crops to BT cotton. Thus, there were the chances that textile sector will groom but in future, it will create food insecurity problem. Keywords: BT cotton; Cropping Pattern; Farmer’s Categories; Punjab I. Introduction Cotton is produced in more than seventy countries. However, only four countries (China, the US, India and Pakistan) produce about two-thirds of the world’s cotton. China is the largest cotton producer with a share of 25 percent, followed by the US (19%), India (14%) and Pakistan (9%). Nearly two-thirds of the world’s cotton is consumed in three countries: China, India and Pakistan with shares of 35 percent, 15 percent and 10 percent, respectively. About one-third of global cotton production is traded internationally. The US is the largest exporter of cotton with a share of 41 percent in world exports, and China is the largest importer with a share of 19 percent in world imports (Cotton and Wool Year Book, 2008). Cotton production is important to Pakistan’s agriculture and the overall economy. Nearly 26 percent of all farmers grow cotton, and over 15 percent of Pakistan’s total