Zimbabwe turns to cotton GMOs to reboot sector

Zimbabwe has embarked on a strategic initiative to assess the performance of genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties as part of efforts to revitalise its vital cotton industry  -  a cornerstone of the country's agriculture and economy.

The trials, led by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development through the Cotton Research Institute, aim to test new cotton hybrids with enhanced pest resistance and productivity.

Cotton, often dubbed Zimbabwe's "white gold," is a crucial contributor to the national economy and rural livelihoods. It supports over 400,000 households by providing income, employment, and value through local textile and oil-processing industries.

As a global player, Zimbabwe ranked as the 16th largest exporter of raw cotton in 2022, earning approximately US$147 million from exports. Key markets include Lesotho, South Africa, Mauritius, Pakistan, and Indonesia.

Under strict regulatory oversight, confined field trials have been conducted at five sites nationwide. According to Dr Dumisani Kutywayo, Chief Director for Agricultural Research, Innovation and Specialist Services, four Bt hybrids (cotton varieties containing the Bollgard II gene for pest resistance) were tested against four non-Bt hybrids and two local open-pollinated varieties (OPVs).

The trials focused on natural pest incidence, targeting lepidopteran pests such as cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), red bollworm (Diparopsis castanea), spiny bollworm (Earias insulana), and pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella). Pest damage was carefully monitored, with spraying protocols triggered once insect counts surpassed established thresholds.

Initial findings have been promising: Bt hybrids showed pest incidences about half those recorded in OPVs and one-third those in non-Bt hybrids. Locule damage  -  an indicator of cotton quality  -  was also significantly lower in Bt varieties (19.9%) compared to 39.55% in non-Bt hybrids and 40.55% in OPVs.

However, Dr Kutywayo emphasised that these results remain preliminary. "The performance of Bt hybrids under these experimental conditions requires further investigation to determine the implications on yield and production costs," he noted.

Zimbabwe's regulatory framework requires three full seasons of trial data before any conclusive decisions can be made. During the third season, crops will be deliberately infested with bollworms to simulate high pest pressure and more rigorously evaluate the Bt hybrids' resilience.

The successful introduction of Bt cotton could lead to higher yields, reduced pesticide use, increased farmer profitability, and strengthened rural economies  -  critical for national food and fibre security.

This initiative aligns with Zimbabwe's National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which prioritises the cotton value chain among ten key sectors for economic growth. NDS1 emphasises "quick-win" value chains, including agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and others, with cotton playing a pivotal role in agro-value chain development alongside soya bean, sugar cane, dairy, and leather.

By leveraging biotechnology and innovation, Zimbabwe aims to modernise its cotton sector, boost export competitiveness, and unlock sustainable rural development potential.