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Naturalising transgenics: Official seeds, loose seeds and risk in the decision matrix of Gujarati cotton farmers

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  • Devparna Roy
  • Ronald Herring
  • Charles Geisler

Abstract

Cotton farmers in Gujarat, western India, faced a novel decision matrix when Delhi gave provisional approval, in March 2002, to Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech Ltd. to release three Bt-cotton varieties. These varieties represented India's first legally commercialised transgenics: official seeds. Unofficial transgenic seeds were also available to farmers both as unpackaged, unbranded 'loose seeds' - mostly F2 progeny of a popular but banned transgenic variety - and as packaged, branded local gray-market Bt cultivars not approved by government. This essay utilises original field research to analyse the reasoning frame of farmers in choosing which seeds to plant. It finds that Bt cotton varieties were valued by farmers for reduction of pest damage, pesticide cost and thus improvement of yields and income. Second, choices among Bt varieties are complex, riding on seed-cost differentials between official and stealth cultivars and variable fit of varieties to local agronomic conditions. Third, some farmers chose non-Bt cultivars, for various reasons, including preference for organic cultivation - though some considered Bt cotton compatible with organic agriculture. Cotton farmers in Gujarat have in effect naturalised transgenic varieties, slotting them into familiar strategies to hedge risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Devparna Roy & Ronald Herring & Charles Geisler, 2007. "Naturalising transgenics: Official seeds, loose seeds and risk in the decision matrix of Gujarati cotton farmers," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(1), pages 158-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:43:y:2007:i:1:p:158-176
    DOI: 10.1080/00220380601055635
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    Cited by:

    1. Ramaswami, Bharat & Pray, Carl E. & Lalitha, N., 2012. "The Spread of Illegal Transgenic Cotton Varieties in India: Biosafety Regulation, Monopoly, and Enforcement," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 177-188.
    2. David Kothamasi & Saskia Vermeylen, 2011. "Genetically modified organisms in agriculture: can regulations work?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 535-546, June.
    3. Swaminathan, Madhura & Rawal, Vikas, 2011. "Are there Benefits from the Cultivation of Bt Cotton? A Comment Based on Data from a Vidarbha Village," Review of Agrarian Studies, Foundation for Agrarian Studies, vol. 1(1), July.
    4. Sarthak Gaurav & Srijit Mishra, 2012. "To Bt or not to Bt? Risk and uncertainty considerations in technology assessment," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2012-001, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
    5. N. Lalitha & Carl E. Pray & Bharat Ramaswami, 2008. "The Limits of intellectual property rights: Lessons from the spread of illegal transgenic seeds in India," Discussion Papers 08-06, Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi.

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