Genetically modified maize adoption in Southern Vietnam

Abstract

This study compared costs and returns between stacked Bt/Ht GM and non-GM maize and identified determinants of GM maize adoption in Southern Vietnam. Data were from the 2016 Summer-Autumn cropping season, one year after GM maize was commercialised in Vietnam. The main economic benefits of GM compared to non-GM maize included increases in yield, revenue and profit by 19.6%, 25.6% and 116.5%, respectively. The major barrier was high seed cost, i.e., 57.9% higher than that of non-GM. The main cost savings in GM maize were labour cost of weeding and pesticide spraying and pesticide cost. The estimates from tobit adoption model suggested that the government's strategy to expand GM maize production should carefully consider an adoption campaign targeted at farmers who own livestock and large farmers. Educating farmers to understand the positive impacts of using GM maize and change their attitudes towards them would also increase adoption.