Policy interventions required for greater benefits of Bt cotton to the rural poor in China : based on the outcomes of a small grant project funded by IDRC/AIT "Enabling Bio-innovations for Poverty Alleviation in Asia"; policy brief
Abstract
Cotton is an important cash crop in China, among six genetically modified (GM) crops approved for commercial production, with Bt (insect resistant biological pesticide) cotton grown by about 7 million small and resource poor farmers. However, with decreasing populations of bollworm, and reduction of pesticide sprays, insect population structure has changed significantly. For instance mirids occupy the niche left by bollworm, becoming a major pest in cotton fields. As Bt cotton adoption is more market driven than policy driven, a pro-poor policy will encourage farmer training for innovation, seed selection, pest management, and useful cultivation technologies through agricultural extension services.
Description
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Policy Brief
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Keywords
CHINA, BT COTTON, RURAL POVERTY, POLICY INTERVENTION, FOOD SECURITY, BIOTECHNOLOGY, PESTICIDES, GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS