Mistranslating refuge crops: analyzing policy mobilities in the context of Indian Bt cotton production

Abstract. In light of recent pink bollworm (PBW) pest infestations in several cotton-producing states India, farmers genetically engineered Bt cotton (Bt for Bacillus thuringiensis) have faced fierce criticism their noncompliance with the national insect resistance management (IRM) strategy. We argue that this is short-sighted and one-dimensional. Building upon literature on policy assemblages we show implementation IRM strategy India was seriously flawed due to government-induced mistranslations foreign strategies form policy-diluting alterations. first India's differs substantially from successful pursued USA or China. Second, present results a representative survey state Telangana (n= 457) neglects moral economic considerations entrepreneurial agricultural logic Indian strive for. conclude are not fault but rather result mismanaged biotechnology project undertaken by government its associated responsible ministries.