Global Analysis of Bt Cotton Adoption: Effects on Pesticide Use, Crop Yield, and Socioeconomic Outcomes

Cotton belongs to family Malvaceae having a genus Gossypium is a world’s superior fiber. Pakistan ranks second in the world in terms of exports, fourth in terms of yarn production, and seventh in terms of fabric production. Almost 60% of Pakistan's export revenue comes from the sale of cotton goods. Non- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton was the major reason of low cotton yield in Pakistan. In 1990 China, Australia and USA introduced Bt gene for the management of bollworms which ultimately increase the cotton production, while Pakistan adopted first Bt crop in 2004. The purpose of the present review is to assess the rate of adoption of Bt cotton, as well as its influence on yield and the application of pesticides. The result showed that Bt technology significantly decreased pesticide usage while still increasing yields. It is possible to estimate the significance of having a high cotton yield as well as low crop losses by considering the fact that the production and exports of Pakistan's textile industry are directly dependent on the country's annual cotton production.