Biotech Updates

Colombian Women Benefit from GM Cotton

September 30, 2011

A team of scientists from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) headed by Patricia Zambrano have released a report on "Women cotton farmers, their perceptions and experiences with transgenic varieties", a case study in Colombia. The study was conducted through discussions among farmers, regional cotton association managers and technical assistants in Cereté and El Espinal, Colombia.

Among the conclusions raised were:

  1. Cotton is a viable opportunity for women to participate in growing profitable cash crops
  2. Transgenic varieties appear to be attractive for women farmers that save on labor costs especially in spraying insecticides.
  3. Women place more value on the peace of mind that these varieties give them
  4. Easier management of GM crops
  5.  are particularly important to women given their more restrictive time demands.

See the IFPRI news at http://www.ifpri.org/publication/women-cotton-farmers-their-perceptions-and-experiences-transgenic-varieties. To download the documents, click on http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/ifpridp01118.pdf.