Farmers willingness to grow GM food and cash crops: empirical evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

Using data collected from 950 farmers in four provinces of Pakistan i.e. Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, the current paper analyzes the farmer’s willingness to grow genetically modified (GM) food and cash crop. There exists a huge difference in farmers’ perception about GM food and cash crops in Pakistan. In Pakistan, over 90 percent of the farmers were aware of the GM cash crop while only few farmers were aware of GM food crops and vegetables. Empirical results show that majority of the farmers were willing to grow GM cash crops but reluctant to grow the GM food crops and vegetables mainly due to the controversy surrounding the GM food crops. The econometric results illustrate the willingness to grow GM food and cash crop is higher among farm households with large land holdings, secured land rights, higher income levels and larger assets ownership. Result also reveals that farm household NGOs membership negatively affects the willingness of the farmers to grow GM food and cash crops. The access to credit and agricultural extension services do not affect farmer’s willingness to grow GM food and cash crops in Pakistan.