Evaluation of Environmental, Economic and Social impacts of introducing Bt cotton in Pakistan

Abstract

The only GM crop approved in Pakistan in 2010 was Bt Cotton. GM cotton across the world brought many positive impacts environmentaly, socially and economically for the cotton farmers. Formal regulatory approvals for cotton cultivation were given by the Government of Pakistan after 15 years of commercialization in the world. However, Pakistani breeders had informally introduced GM Cotton by 2002-03 by backcrossing with exotic germplasm through informal sector. Conventional cotton used to consume 60% of the pesticide and weedicide sprays of the total global chemical sprays. GM Cotton reduced the sprays to 43% reduction in the total volume of active ingredient used and a 32.3% reduction in the total field Environmental Impact Quotient, decreasing the negative environmental impacts, improved living standards of the farmers, and increased economic gains for the countries globally; except in Pakistan. This raises a question why Bt was unsuccessful in Pakistan. This research work aims to identify the Environmental, Social and Economic effects of Bt cotton varieties used in Pakistan while comparing them with Bt cotton used globally. The total yield of Bt cotton in Pakistan declines yearly whereas it brings benefits to the farmers in other countries. Cotton, the only GM Crop in Pakistan faces many challenges. A massive task of gathering data of 168 cotton farmers in total, from Multan, Tehsil Mailsi and District Vehari were gathered in 4 months' time through a structured Questionnaire. Additional to those three focus group discussions, video-interview were also conducted to understand the perspective of cotton farmers, there challenges and expectations from the policymakers, along with interviews with Multinational companies.