‘Adoption’ & abandoning of Bt brinjal cultivation: Farmers’ Experience Survey

Journal or Publishing Institution: UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternative)

Journal or Publisher URL: http://ubinig.org

Study: https://web.archive.org/web/20190612154105/https://www.gmwatch.org/files/Final_Report_Bt_brinjal_farmers_01_02_2019.pdf

Author(s): Akhter, F.

Article Type: Report

Abstract:

On the basis of the claims of higher adoption of Bt brinjal by farmers, a survey was conducted on the adoption and abandonment of Bt brinjal by farmers. Forty-eight farmers were selected for interviews on the basis of their availability to respond to the questionnaire out of the list of 106 for cultivation during 2014-15. The purpose of the survey was to check if the farmers receiving seedling in the early rounds are continuing for the later rounds till 2018-19. The interviews were conducted over phone. Seven team members were engaged in calling farmers over a period of two weeks in late December, 2018 and early January, 2019. It was a recall method with a Questionnaire (see appendix) and answers to the questions were entered with consent of the farmers. All the 19 districts in which the Bt brinjal seedlings given, were covered in the telephonic interviews. These districts are Gazipur, Manikganj, Tangail, Comilla, Mymensingh, Bogra, Kushtia, Meherpur, Pabna, Jessore, Bhola, Narsinghdi, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Jamalpur and Sherpur.

Summary of Findings:

i. Forty-eight farmers fall mostly in small farms (71%) and in middle farms (25%) with experience
of over 10 years in farming, particularly in brinjal farming.
ii. Farmers were given seedlings of four Bt brinjal varieties during 2014-15. These were Bt brinjal 1
(Uttara), Bt brinjal 2 (Kajla), Bt brinjal 3 (Nayantara) and Bt brinjal 4 (ISD006) were given to
farmers. Bt brinjal seedlings as a pair and also as Bt and non-Bt varieties (Nayantara and Kajla.
iii. BARI and the Department of Agricultural Extension have given six rounds of distribution of
seedlings till 2018-19. UBINIG has interviewed 48 farmers out of 106, who cultivated Bt brinjal in
2014-15 to capture a picture of the farmers adopting from initial years and those who have
discontinued subsequently, and the reasons for the same.
iv. The seedlings were given by Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the respective
districts/Upazilla or from BARI regional/central office.
v. Forty-two out of 48 farmers, were given seedlings for being known to DAE officials (87%);
followed by being a progressive farmer (81%), who would take new varieties. Only one third of
farmers got recommended by the neighboring farmers.
vi. Two most important reasons for farmers for adoption, were “fetching more profit (54%)” and
“high yield (52%)”. Besides, since Bt brinjal seeds were given “free of cost (35%)” and “provided
with other inputs (37%)” and to have “higher price(31%)”, “no pesticide use (27%)” in the
market contributed to farmers’ decision.
vii. Claims made by DAE officials attractive to farmers at the time of motivation for adoption were
“No Fruit & Shoot Borer attack (71%)” in the brinjal, followed by high yield (68%) and more
profit (64%).
viii. Although farmers were not told anything about Bt brinjal being a GMO, some precautionary
measures were asked to be taken. These were Border-row management with non-bt varieties
were followed by 94% farmers as directed by the DAE officials and isolation distance was
maintained by 68% of the farmers. The standard isolation distance suggested by BARI booklet is
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100 x 80 cm between rows and plants. The maximum distance described by interviewed farmers
between plants was 91.44 cm, minimum distance was 30.48 cm. The average distance followed
was 61 cm.
ix. About 67% farmers were given seedlings between 300 to 1000. The mean number of seedlings
given was 679. Besides seedlings, farmers were given fertilizers, pesticides and cash money.
x. Twenty-nine farmers gave an estimate of costs that ranged between less than Taka 5000 to over
Taka 20,000. The mean was Taka 11,293.
xi. Only 5 farmers gave profit estimate and 28 farmers gave estimates of loss. The mean profit was
Taka 6500 and the mean for loss was Taka 18750. That means, those who gained economically
had less earning than those who lost.
xii. The yield performance was reported to be good (37%) compared to very bad (21%). Pest attack
was average (27%) compared to bad (18%). Regarding pesticide use, they had mixed
experiences, good (27%), average (31%) and bad (25%). They reported of using pesticides with
the directions given by DAE officials.
xiii. The overall combined satisfaction level with 22% farmers was very good and good compared
to66% farmers having very bad and bad experience.
xiv. Fifty-six percent farmers were not approached by the DAE officials for another round because 1.
the yield was bad, 2. the claims were not found true, 3. They were supposed to get some money
for use of the land, and 4. The claim of profit was found wrong.
xv. Sixty-eight percent of farmers did not want to go for adoption in another round. The farmers
having bad experience did not want to repeat again. The claims made by government were not
true, the plants died. They did not give compensation. Those who wanted to do again said, that
there is support from DAE, and that it was profitable for him to cultivate it.
xvi. Sixty-two percent farmers did not save any seeds from the brinjals they cultivated. DAE officials
asked them not to keep the seeds. Those (27%) who saved the seeds, did not plant it again.
Those who saved the seeds did it without the knowledge of DAE.
xvii. All the forty-eight farmers who started in 2014-15 did not continue in subsequent years. Only 13
(27%) continued for 2015-16, gradually decreasing in 2016-17 (10%) and 2017-18 (6%) and
2018-19 (4%).
xviii. Out of 48 farmers, seventy-three percent abandoned Bt brinjal cultivation in the next rounds.

Keywords: Bt brinjal seeds, farmer satisfaction, farmer experience, yield, profit, seed adoption, seed abandonment

Citation:

Akhter, F., 2019. ‘Adoption’ & abandoning of Bt brinjal cultivation: Farmers’ Experience Survey. UBINIG, p.1-31.

Category:

• Environmental effects
• Pesticide use

Record ID: 2477