Farmers in Maharashtra are increasingly turning to the illegal Herbicide Tolerant Bt (HTBt) cotton. This trend is driven by high labour costs associated with traditional Bt cotton. Laximant Kauthankar, a farmer from Adgaon Budruk village, explains that weed control for Bt cotton costs him over ₹20,000 per acre, while it costs just ₹2,000 for HTBt. Many farmers like him are aware that HTBt cotton is illegal but feel they have no choice. The high demand for HTBt cotton has led to its spread across the state, with seed production happening mainly in Gujarat. Despite this, the central government has not yet legalised HTBt cotton, citing incomplete trials and potential risks. Farmers contend that the traditional methods of weeding are labour-intensive and costly, making HTBt a more attractive option. The government stipulates fines and jail terms for growing non-authorised GM crops, but this does not deter farmers. They are desperate for affordable solutions in a challenging economic environment. Seed companies estimate that between 15 to 20 percent of the cotton-growing area in India is now cultivated with this unauthorised variety. Farmers argue that the government should recognise the changing trends in agriculture and legalise HTBt cotton to protect farmers from fraud and poor-quality seeds. The ongoing illegal status of HTBt cotton poses risks for farmers, including the potential for counterfeit seeds. Farmers’ groups are pushing for the legalisation of HTBt cotton, arguing that it would benefit the agriculture sector as a whole. The situation illustrates the complex dynamics in India’s cotton farming sector as farmers seek practical solutions to economic pressures.