Abstract
Genetically modified (GM) maize technology adoption is subject to compliance with stewardship requirements that promote the long-term effectiveness of the technology against target pests and weeds. Awareness of the value of these requirements can enhance farmer compliance and promote the adoption of improved management practices. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 210 smallholder GM maize farmers in the Eastern Cape to assess farmers’ awareness and compliance to GM maize technology stewardship requirements. Field surveys were also conducted to identify the practices adopted for the cultivation of GM maize. Results indicated that farmers lacked access to information about GM maize and had a low level of awareness of GM maize stewardship requirements. Additionally, while the use of Bt maize resulted in fewer farmers reporting pest incidence, notably that of the maize stem borer, Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on their farms, for some reason, there was an increase in the proportion of farmers that sprayed and relied solely on insecticides for controlling pests on Bt maize. A high proportion of farmers (71.4%) also relied solely on herbicide sprays for controlling weeds in their herbicide tolerant maize fields. Field surveys also indicated non-compliance to the requirement for the planting of refuge areas adjacent to Bt maize. Training of extension service personnel on stewardship requirements for GM maize is urgently needed to improve its management and prevent loss of the benefits provided by GM maize technology.Keywords: Extension, GM maize, information dissemination, smallholder farmer, stem borers
Highlights
Genetically modified (GM) maize seeds have enhanced traits that are patent protected (Monsanto, 2012; Jacobson, 2013:30; Fischer, Van den Berg & Mutengwa, 2015:1)
Owing to the risk of resistance evolution by target insect pests to the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) maize trait and weeds to herbicides (Tabashnik, 1994:47; Green & Owen, 2010:5827), the use of GM maize is subject to compliance with technology stewardship requirements as provided for in the Plant Improvement Act (Act 53 of 1976), the Plant Breeders Rights Act (Act 15 of 1976), the South African Patents Act (Act 57 of 1978) the South African Trade Marks Act (Act 194 of 1993), the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Act (Act 15 of 1997) and the GMO Amendment Act (Act 26 of 2006) (Monsanto, 2012)
The majority had been cultivating maize for more than 20 years (71.2%) they had less than four years’ experience (73.2%) with GM maize which was mostly cultivated on communal land (87.1%)
Summary
GM maize seeds have enhanced traits that are patent protected (Monsanto, 2012; Jacobson, 2013:30; Fischer, Van den Berg & Mutengwa, 2015:1). Owing to the risk of resistance evolution by target insect pests to the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) maize trait and weeds to herbicides (Tabashnik, 1994:47; Green & Owen, 2010:5827), the use of GM maize is subject to compliance with technology stewardship requirements as provided for in the Plant Improvement Act (Act 53 of 1976), the Plant Breeders Rights Act (Act 15 of 1976), the South African Patents Act (Act 57 of 1978) the South African Trade Marks Act (Act 194 of 1993), the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Act (Act 15 of 1997) and the GMO Amendment Act (Act 26 of 2006) (Monsanto, 2012). Most of the training programmes attended by farmers were organised by DRDAR (85.9%) and discussed single topics such as mechanisation of GM maize fields (38.6%) or multiple topics such as mechanisation, pest management and fertiliser application (21.1%) (Table 1). Langyintuo, Bugo, Makinde, Bigirwa & Wakiumu, (2011:286) reported that experimentation and use of incremental quantities of inputs such as seeds provide farmers the opportunity to choose technologies based on their own assessments of abiotic factors such as rainfall
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