GM Crops and Smallholders

Abstract

There is currently limited knowledge about the effects of introducing genetically modified (GM) crops into smallholder farming or about how biosafety requirements are interpreted and adopted by smallholders. A case study was conducted on introduction of GM (Bt) maize to South African smallholders. The results reveal low general awareness about agricultural technology among smallholders and an incompatibility between smallholder practices and biosafety requirements. The implications are low understanding of biosafety measures and low compliance. Therefore, essential prerequisites for the safe introduction of GM crops to smallholders are increased smallholder knowledge on modern plant varieties and improved agricultural advisory services that better match the smallholder context. In addition, information about GM crops and biosafety implementation must be modified to better suit smallholders.

Is Bt maize effective in improving South African smallholder agriculture?

“…We have recently (in September 2014) witnessed a similar situation in the Limpopo Province where Bt and Roundup Ready maize is about to be rolled out to smallholders through a government-funded programme, while seed retailers and local government authorities lack sufficient information on GM crops. Research shows that as a result of the current flaws in how information on Bt maize is transferred to smallholders, many smallholders planting Bt maize are not fully aware of what makes it different from other hybrid maize 12,13 ; and they often do not understand the purpose of refugia, nor comply with the demand to plant them. 12 (To some extent, the lack of compliance with refugia plantings also applies to large commercial South African farmers.…”

“…Research shows that as a result of the current flaws in how information on Bt maize is transferred to smallholders, many smallholders planting Bt maize are not fully aware of what makes it different from other hybrid maize 12,13 ; and they often do not understand the purpose of refugia, nor comply with the demand to plant them. 12 (To some extent, the lack of compliance with refugia plantings also applies to large commercial South African farmers. 14,15 ) Regulations regarding Bt maize in South Africa also currently obstruct smallholders from fully benefitting.…”

“…In South Africa today, the main information channel on Bt crops to smallholders is through the private sector (seed companies and local seed retailers). Jacobson and Myhr 12 reported from the Eastern Cape Province that the information days on GM crops held by seed companies were insufficient for transferring all the necessary information and that the local seed retailers largely lacked the ability to transfer information on GM crops. We have recently (in September 2014) witnessed a similar situation in the Limpopo Province where Bt and Roundup Ready maize is about to be rolled out to smallholders through a government-funded programme, while seed retailers and local government authorities lack sufficient information on GM crops.…”

Plant Abandonment by Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae: Do Bt Toxins Have an Effect?

“…It is essential that IRM approaches are tailored to best fit the behavior of the target pest species and the scale of production [8,43], especially in smallholder and subsistence agricultural systems, which are predominant in developing regions such as Africa [6,44,45]. A generic IRM strategy developed for use in industrial agricultural systems will most likely not be effective in these developing regions, due to the challenges provided by implementing structured refuges [45][46][47][48][49]. Therefore, information about the target pest migration behavior is crucial to develop practical and appropriate IRM strategies.…”

Larval Migration Behaviour of Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Bt and Non-Bt Maize under Semi-Field and Field Conditions

“…Since agriculture in Africa is practiced largely on small holder and subsistence farming plots, a generic IRM strategy developed for industrial agriculture will most likely not be effective, due to the challenges provided by implementing structured refuges [29][30][31][32]. Instead, it is essential that IRM approaches are tailored to best fit the behaviour of the target pest species and the scale of production [33].…”