Can GM-Technologies Help the Poor? The Impact of Bt Cotton in Makhathini Flats, KwaZulu-Natal

Thirtle, Colin; Beyers, Lindie; Ismael, Y.; Piesse, Jenifer

doi:10.1016/s0305-750x(03)00004-4

Cited by 163 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…These are land and livestock which have been shown to overcome credit constraints in rural areas (Thirtle, Beyers, Ismael, & Piesse, 2003). The estimated coefficient is thus expected to be positive.…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effect of Agricultural Extension Program on Smallholders’ Farm Productivity: Evidence from Three Peasant Associations in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Elias¹,

Nohmi²,

Yasunobu³

et al. 2013

JAS

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This study evaluates the effect of agricultural extension program participation on farm productivity taking three case study kebeles (peasant associations) in Ethiopia. A total of 1112 plot-level data collected from 300 selected farm households, comprising of extension participants and non-participants, were used in the study. The study begins the estimation with simple Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method. To deal with the potential bias due to the existence of observed and unobserved characteristics, we employed Heckman Treatment Effect Model (HTEM) and Propensity Score Matching (PSM). The OLS result shows that extension participation increases farm productivity by about 6%. However, both HTEM and PSM clearly reveal the presence of selection bias in extension program participation which leads to underestimation of the OLS estimates. The participation could have increased farm productivity by up to 20% had it not been to the serious selection bias related to non-farming factors such as involvement in kebele administration, and wealth status of the participants observed during program placement. Our PSM analysis also verifies the positive effect of extension program participation on farm productivity. In conclusion, the extension program has a positive effect on farm productivity in the study area. However, its effect with its current structure and input could have tripled had there been no bias related to extension program participation. This result provides a valuable policy insight in which improving access to diversified and quality agricultural inputs are critically necessary for the participants on top of expanding the program to less resourceful farmers by avoiding any entry barriers in the future.

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Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effect of Agricultural Extension Program on Smallholders’ Farm Productivity: Evidence from Three Peasant Associations in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Elias¹,

Nohmi²,

Yasunobu³

et al. 2013

JAS

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“…The Council for Biotechnology Information has published articles on its website quoting local farmers whose income has been increased since they switched to Bt cotton. A study conducted between 1998/99 and 2000/01 concluded that there were substantial benefits from Bt adoption (Thirtle et al 2003). Cost savings were made in decreased pesticide use and in decreased labour requirement for spraying, while average yields increased.…”

Section: South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there a role for Bt cotton in IPM for smallholders in Africa?

Hillocks¹

2005

International Journal of Pest Management

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Cotton is an important crop in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Cotton varieties transformed with genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are resistant to a number of lepidopteran bollworm pests of cotton. Bt cotton varieties have been widely adopted in Australia, China, India, the USA and elsewhere. To date, South Africa is the only country in SSA that has planted Bt cotton, but many other African countries are soon to do so. This paper reviews IPM in a number of African countries and considers the possible contribution that Bt cotton might make to IPM for African smallholders.

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“…GM cotton expressing Cry genes is cultivated on 33.1 million ha in different cotton growing countries including United States [16,17], China [18][19][20], India [21][22][23][24][25][26], South Africa [27][28][29], Mexico [30], Argentina [31,32] and Pakistan [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] and experienced many benefits like reduced use of broad-spectrum insecticides, improved control of target pests, reduced production cost, increased yield and better opportunity for biological control.…”

Section: Transgenic Bt Cottonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transgenic Bt Cotton: Effects on Target and Non-Target Insect Diversity

Arshad¹,

Khan²,

Aslam³

et al. 2018

Past, Present and Future Trends in Cotton Breeding

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Occurrence of diversity in ecosystem sustains particular characteristic of a biological community and also ensures stability of the community. Transgenic crops may affect insect biodiversity by unintended impacts on non-target arthropod population. For example, transgenic GM cotton specific to target lepidopterous pests can change the cotton pest spectrum and may induce the growth of new harmful pest species having no pest status. The change in species composition may influence IPM approach in cotton crop. The results of authors' research studies as well as global impact indicate that GM cotton is highly specific to target pests and has no unintended impact on non-target insect population. GM cotton provides significant season-long field control of target pests (Helicoverpa armigera, Earias spp. and Pectinophora gossypiella), with no significant control of Spodoptera species. The decreased insecticide use in GM cotton has a positive impact on beneficial insect populations and can increase the stability of rare species. Bt cotton has no resistance against non-target sucking insect pests. As GM cotton has no adverse effects on the non-target insect population and can reduce the use of broad-spectrum insecticides, it can become an important tool of IPM program in cotton agro-ecosystem of Pakistan.

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Can GM-Technologies Help the Poor? The Impact of Bt Cotton in Makhathini Flats, KwaZulu-Natal

Cited by 163 publications

References 9 publications

Effect of Agricultural Extension Program on Smallholders’ Farm Productivity: Evidence from Three Peasant Associations in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Effect of Agricultural Extension Program on Smallholders’ Farm Productivity: Evidence from Three Peasant Associations in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Is there a role for Bt cotton in IPM for smallholders in Africa?

Transgenic Bt Cotton: Effects on Target and Non-Target Insect Diversity

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