Adoption and uptake pathways of Biotech crops by small-scale, resource-poor farmers in the Philippines

The study aimed to analyze the adoption and uptake pathways of biotech corn among poor farmers considering inadequate capital and lack of full government support to their new venture. Biotech corn farmers have been planting biotech corn for 7 years using mostly the stacked trait (IR/HT) variety. Bt corn (IR) variety was planted by only about 11%. Small-scale farmers were able to obtain full capitalization for seeds, fertilizers, weedicides, and even emergency household expenses from private financiers and traders on the condition that farmers sell their produce only to them. Income was estimated as P30,342 per hectare, which was three times higher than what they usually earn from non-biotech varieties. This increase income enabled farmers to provide better for their daily sustenance, send their children to school until college, repair and concretize their houses, buy home appliances, and invest on motorcycles as a form of family and farm transport. A socially significant benefit was the farmers gaining peace of mind which eluded them for years as borer attacks gave them a measly harvest. The uptake of biotech corn was initiated by seed company technicians through demonstration farms and by linking the farmers to financiers and traders. The latter ensured provision of two important services (capital and market) which farmers sorely lacked and which government agencies could not provide. The pathway was sustained by farmers sharing and convincing their fellow farmers and relative of the benefits of biotech corn and bringing the good news farther to other nearby communities by word of mouth. Local leaders and successful early adoptors served as local champions who also influenced other farmers. Despite the promise of biotech crops being fulfilled, farmers still experienced problems about fungal and bacterial diseases, expired seeds, low buying price, high cost of seeds, and perennial lack of own capital for biotech corn farming.