Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
Volume 103, Issue 4, Pages 1186-1206Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/ajae.12162
Keywords
Bangladesh; eggplant; GMOs; pesticides; yield; Q16; Q12; O13
Categories
Funding
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Policy Research and Strategy Support Program (PRSSP) in Bangladesh under USAID [EEM-G-00-04-00013-00]
- Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The implementation of a cluster randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh showed that cultivation of genetically modified Bt brinjal can significantly increase yields, reduce pesticide costs, increase net revenues for farmers, decrease pesticide toxicity, and lower medical expenses related to pesticide poisoning. The results were robust and consistent across different farmer demographics.
We implemented a cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of genetically modified eggplant (Bt brinjal) in Bangladesh. Our two primary outcomes were changes in yield and in pesticide costs. Cultivation of Bt brinjal raises yields by 3,564 kg/ha. This statistically significant impact is equivalent to a 51% increase relative to the control group. There is a statistically significant fall in pesticide costs, 7,175 Taka per hectare (85 USD per ha), a 37.5% reduction. Yield increases arise because Bt farmers harvest more eggplant and because fewer fruits are discarded because they are damaged. Bt brinjal farmers sell more eggplant and receive a higher price for the output they sell while incurring lower input costs, resulting in a 128% increase in net revenues. Bt brinjal farmers used smaller quantities of pesticides and sprayed less frequently. Bt brinjal reduced the toxicity of pesticides as much as 76%. Farmers growing Bt brinjal and who had pre-existing chronic conditions consistent with pesticide poisoning were 11.5% points less likely to report a symptom of pesticide poisoning and were less likely to incur cash medical expenses to treat these symptoms. Our results are robust to changes in model specification and adjustment for multiple hypothesis testing. We did not find evidence of heterogeneous effects by farmer age, schooling, or land cultivated. Bt brinjal is a publicly developed genetically modified organism that conveys significant productivity and income benefits while reducing the use of pesticides damaging to human and ecological health.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available