UBINIG || Thursday 12 September 2019
i. UBINIG conducted a short survey in December, 2018 and early January, 2019 on the adoption and abandonment of Bt brinjal by farmers on the basis of the claims of higher adoption of Bt brinjal by farmers. Forty-eight farmers were interviewed out of the list of 106 farmers who were selected by Department of Agricultural Extension for cultivation of Bt brinjal during 2014-15. The purpose of the survey was to check if the farmers receiving seedling in the early rounds are continuing for the later rounds till 2018-19. Farmers were given seedlings of four Bt brinjal varieties during 2014-15. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have given six rounds of distribution of seedlings till 2018-19. Forty-two out of 48 farmers were given seedlings for being known to DAE officials (87%) during the round 2014 -15. The yield performance was reported to be good (37%) compared to very bad (21%). Pest attack was average (27%) compared to bad (18%). Regarding pesticide use, they had mixed experiences, good (27%), average (31%) and bad (25%). They reported of using pesticides with the directions given by DAE officials. The farmers having bad experience did not want to repeat again. The claims made by government were not true, the plants died. Out of 48 farmers, 73% abandoned Bt brinjal cultivation in the next rounds.