Potential poverty reducing impacts of Bt eggplant adoption in the Philippines

Issue Date

12-2012

Abstract

Poverty remains a serious problem in developing countries like the Philippines. Despite increased interest in understanding poverty impacts of agricultural research there are few ex ante studies done on impacts of R&D on poverty. This research determined the poverty impact of adopting Bt eggplant technology in the Philippines. Combined economic surplus analysis with household-level data analysis were used to construct ex ante estimates of changes in poverty resulting from adopting Bt eggplant. The data used in the analysis were taken from surveys of eggplant farmers in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Batangas and from Francisco (2006 & 2007). The poverty-reducing impact of Bt eggplant was substantial to those technology adopters. Before adoption, 96% of the eggplant farmers were poor with an average household income of PhP 73, 120. After adoption, the percentage of poor eggplant farmers was reduced to 45% and household income increased to PhP 198,120. The net impact on poverty was a decrease in the number of poor farmers by 32% prior to adoption. We conclude that Bt eggplant adoption by farmers, could be instrumental in reducing poverty of eggplant farmer.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

37

Issue

3

Page

30-39

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables, graph

Language

English

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