state how biotechnology introduced for the cotton crop has helped our country economically and socially.
(150 to 200 words)
Answers
Answer:
By the help of biotechnology, we are able to introduce Bt cotton which is resistant to pests and insects by which crop production is increased and our economic and social well being cured..
Answer:
Global adoption of transgenic crops reached 58.7 million hectares in 2002 from
2.8 million in 1996. Delivery has occurred almost entirely through the private
sector and adoption has been rapid in areas where the crops addressed serious
production constraints and where farmers had access to the new technologies.
Three countries (USA, Argentina and Canada), three crops (soybean, cotton and
maize) and two traits (insect resistance and herbicide tolerance) account for the
vast majority of global transgenic area. While some farmers in some developing
countries are benefiting, most do not have access to transgenic crops and traits
that address their needs. This paper surveys the level and distribution of the
economic impacts of transgenic cotton and soybeans to date and reviews the
impacts of these crops on chemical pesticide and herbicide use. It concludes with
some considerations of ways to address the development and delivery of
technological innovations to small farmers in developing countries.
Key words: Agricultural Biotechnology, Economic Development, Technological
Change, Cotton, Soybean
JEL: O13, Q12, Q16
* Content and errors are exclusively the responsibility of the author and not the FAO or the
author’s institution.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not
imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the part of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or
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1. Introduction
In 1996, approximately 2.8 million hectares were planted to transgenic crops or
genetically modified organisms (GMO) in six countries (James, 1998). Adoption has
been rapid in those areas where the crops address important production problems, and by
2002 global area had risen to 58.7 million hectares in 16 countries (James, 2002). While
this overall rate of diffusion is impressive, it has not been uniform. Developed countries
have dominated the use of transgenic crops and only a small number of crops and traits
have received commercial acceptance (Table 1). Four countries (the USA, Argentina and
Canada), four crops (soybean, cotton, maize and canola) and two traits (herbicide
tolerance and insect resistance) account for more than 99 percent of global transgenic
area. Sales and licenses in developing countries have been an insignificant source of
revenue for industry.
This paper reviews the evidence of economic impacts of the adoption of insect resistant
cotton and herbicide tolerant soybeans in several countries. The emphasis will be on
extracting general conclusions about three key factors: 1) the level and distribution of
economic benefits under private sector delivery of research products, 2) the impacts of
transgenic crops on chemical input use; and 3) implications of the experience to date for
the delivery of transgenic technology to developing countries.
2. Microeconomic impacts of transgenic crops
2.1 Insect resistant cotton
Cotton varieties have been genetically transformed with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes
that cause the cotton plant to produce a protein that is toxic to certain species of insects,
significantly reducing insect damage and chemical pest control costs in infested areas
(Davis et al., 1995). Bt cotton is highly effective in controlling two major Lepidopteran
pests - pink bollworm and cotton bollworm - and is partially effective in suppressing
tobacco budworm and fall armyworm. These four pests are often referred to as the