Economics & markEting Testing the Efficacy and Economic Potential of Bollgard II under Burkina Faso Cropping Conditions

Cotton production in Burkina Faso regularly suffers from significant pest damage. Convention-al pest control measures have failed to adequately control the main cotton pest, Helicoverpa armigera. Burkina Faso began testing of genetically modified (GM) cotton in 2003 to assess the efficacy of the Bollgard II (BII) genes in controlling Lepidoptera pests. Field trials were conducted at two agricul-tural research centers in Burkina Faso (Farako-Bâ and Kouaré). The field trials compared con-ventional cotton varieties to GM cotton varieties in order to estimate the effectiveness of the BII genes in protecting cotton plants and improving cotton yields. The field trial results found tha