Eggplant, known locally as brinjal, is an extremely popular crop in Bangladesh. The vegetable is part of the daily diet for the 164 million Bangladeshis. An estimated 150,000 farmers grow eggplant in Bangladesh, and the crop is essential to food security in the country.
Since the 2013-2014 growing season when Bt eggplant first became available to farmers in Bangladesh, the enthusiasm for the crop has skyrocketed. Farmers are eager to adopt varieties that have been proven to protect them from excessive pesticide use and to earn more income. An estimated 65,800 farmers grew Bt eggplant in Bangladesh in the 2020-2021 growing season.
The Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership aims to accelerate benefits to Bangladeshi farmers while strengthening seed systems, enhancing adoption of stewardship practices, and increasing stakeholder knowledge of bioengineered crops.
The Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership aims to accelerate benefits to farmers while strengthening seed systems, enhancing adoption of stewardship practices, and increasing stakeholder knowledge of bioengineered crops.
Farmers are demanding Bt eggplant, and we want to be sure they get what they need. We are working to increase Bt eggplant adoption through the development of new, agronomically superior varieties that perform event better for farmers. These improved varieties will have better wilt resistance and wider adaptation to agroecological zones.
Developing a more inclusive and responsive Bt eggplant value chain by enhancing stewardship, outreach, education, policy advocacy, and enforcement to safeguard Bt technology usefulness in Bangladesh
We are studying whether biotechnology products equitably benefit women, men and young people within households that adopt them in Bangladesh.
A snapshot of our innovation ecosystem.
BANGLADESH
Pesticides are the dominant control tactic for managing agricultural pests in Bangladesh and there was a 5-fold increase in the use of all agricultural pesticides (insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) between 1990 and 20101. In this same survey the use of insecticides increased more than 20-fold. This is especially troubling because insecticides…
Department of Global Development | Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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