Bt corn gives farmers more income — study

Much more income can be derived from planting genetically modified crops, among them Bt corn, than common varieties, a new publication reported.

In one hectare, a farmer earned an average net income of P21,599, or almost double the P11,467 realized by another who planted non-Bt corn.

The profit advantage easily offset the high cost of seeds, which was P4,177 per bag, as against the P2,130 per bag of non-Bt corn seeds.

There are other advantages of Bt corn over the ordinary corn, pointed out the booklet titled "Commercialization of Bt Corn in the Philippines."

The volume was published by the Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology (APCoAB), an initiative of the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) established in 2003 under the umbrella of the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI).

The report was written by Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, research associate professor of U.P. Los Baños (UPLB) and concurrently director of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCASTRD); Amparo Ampil, chief of the Department of Agriculture-Policy, Advocacy, Research, and Legislative Support Division; Merle Palacpac, chief of the DA-Quarantine Service-Agricultural Center; and Carlo Custodio Jr. of the UPLB National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH).

The volume cited a study done by four UPLB researchers – Drs. Jose Yorobe Jr., Cesar Quicoy, Edwin Alcantara and Blanda Sumayao – titled "Impact Assessment of Bt Corn in the Philippines".

For the UPLB study, a farm-level survey of 107 Bt and 363 non-Bt corn farmers was made by the research team during the wet and dry seasons of crop year 2003-2004. The survey was done in four major corn-growing provinces: Isabela, Camarines Sur, Bukidnon and South Cotabato.

Those who used Bt corn cited benefits such as resistance to corn borers and high yield. Those who chose not to adopt Bt corn decided based on perceived risks, especially to humans and animals.

Regarding yield, Bt corn farms harvested an average of 4,850 kilograms per hectare, or 34 percent more than the non-Bt corn users’ yield of only 3,610 kg/ha.

Other advantages of Bt corn: the expenditure on pesticides was lower and Bt corn received a premium price in the market owing to better quality and less impurities.

In another research following the harvest of Bt corn, 61 percent of farmers who planted the GM crop said said they would prefer to plant Bt corn again. Their frequently cited reason was they were satisfied with the results of the trial planting, specifically yield, resistance to corn borers, high income, and quality of kernels – all leading to increasing their incomes.

This was followed by low production cost because they spent less on chemicals/insecticides and labor.

Thirteen percent said they would plant again if the price of seeds would go lower.

Twenty-four percent of the respondents stated that they were disappointed with Bt corn because they did not gain much, there was low production, low seed germination, and crop failure.The other reason cited was high price of seeds.

In other places in the country covered by other studies, farmers said that Bt corn varieties increased their yields and subsequently their profits.

For instance, Rustom Paraojinog of Kinuman Norte, Ozamis City (Mindanao) obtained 9.4 tons per hectare, earning P70,500.

In Barangay Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, village captain Pacifico Agcaoili harvested high-quality grains at 6.4 t/ha, or two tons higher than the usual yield.

Summing up, the volume stated: "Farmers reported that Bt corn technology gave them higher yield with high quality grains. They also reported needing less pesticide or none at all, as expected since Bt corn is resistant to corn borers. In general, Bt corn farmers were able to reap good quality crop during harvest."