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Burkina Faso


Burkina Faso in Western Africa is one of the poorest countries in the world. Less than one-fifth of the land is arable, yet 90 percent of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture. Where possible, farmers produce cotton as a cash crop, yet are susceptible to frequent drought and insect infestations. Since 2003, Burkina Faso has conducted field trials on GM insect-protected cotton crops that contain a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to protect the plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests. Once approved for commercial use, Burkinabe farmers are expected to benefit from less labor, less pesticide spraying and increased income. Burkina Faso also is engaged in GMO research and development on drought tolerance, insect resistance and virus resistance in cowpeas.

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Grower Profiles


Ouoba Issiaka
Approximately 90 percent of the population of Burkina Faso — one of the poorest countries in the world — engages in subsistence agriculture. West Africa farmer Ouoba Issiaka shares his desire to plant insect-protected GM cotton crops that could produce more consistent and greater yields, which would benefit both his family and his village.
Length: 1:13

Video Transcripts



Ouoba Issiaka
I have been growing cotton for 10 years, and so far I have been able to face difficult situations thanks to the income generated from this activity. So having access to transgenic cotton will be good for me. …

… But so far, we do not have access to this new method. If we get it, it will be good. … This is my dearest hope, because pesticides alone eat up a large portion of our profits. … Since there is no need for pesticide with transgenic cotton, it is something positive for our health and the environment as well.

Arzouma Soulama
Usually, we have pests attack as the cotton is at the flowering stage, and also later on. They make holes in the bolls and cause them to fall. …

On one hectare, I apply pesticide six times. … The treatment is one of the biggest difficulties. The equipment for spraying is very heavy to carry. Carrying this can on the back for one hectare — six treatments — you can see the difficulty of the job. … If we no longer have to spray the cotton, it is a good thing for us. …

… If we try transgenic cotton and it fails, then we can refuse it. But, we should not refuse it for no reason.

Tahirou Fofana
Cotton growing is a very demanding activity. … A year cotton doesn't do well, there is famine because the profits come from there. It slows down the country, and it's a huge misfortune. …

… We heavily depend on cotton farming. … All of my children go to school thanks to cotton farming. Because the introduction of transgenic cotton will help reduce the cost of pesticide, people will be making more profit. This will also have a positive impact on the overall community. People will be able to build schools for their communities, and it will be good for the country.

Editor's Note: Bt cotton contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects cotton plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests.

© 2007 Monsanto Company. All rights reserved. The copyright holder consents to the use of this material and the images in the published context only and solely for the purpose of promoting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.