New Bt Cotton Varieties Promise Higher Yields Amid GMO Debate

News in Brief:

-Nigeria is promoting new Bt cotton varieties through strengthened seed regulation and public-private partnerships, with projected yields of up to 4.4 tonnes per hectare aimed at reviving the struggling textile industry.

-Past disappointments with GM cotton performance and ongoing concerns from farmer groups and civil society highlight the need for strict oversight, transparency and farmer education as adoption expands.

The Mini Cotton Field Day, organised by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in collaboration with Mahyco Nigeria PTE Ltd, is promoting biotechnology and certified seed systems as key tools to restore cotton productivity and rebuild Nigeria’s once-thriving textile value chain.

Held at NASC headquarters, the event brought together regulators, researchers, seed companies and farmers to assess the performance of newly introduced Bt cotton varieties. Speakers described the initiative as a strategic intervention to address long-standing challenges, including low yields, bollworm infestations, poor seed quality, and weak market linkages, that have plagued cotton production for decades.

Promising Yields, Stronger Seed Regulation

Representing the Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Dr Rose Gidado said the focus is on “putting better science in the hands of farmers.” According to her, Bt cotton can significantly reduce bollworm damage, lower pesticide use and improve productivity when properly managed.

Conventional cotton varieties in Nigeria typically yield between 900 kilograms and 1.5 tonnes per hectare. However, newly released Bt cotton varieties, Mahyco C567 BGII and Mahyco C571 BGII, developed in partnership with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) at Ahmadu Bello University, have shown potential yields of between 3.5 and 4.4 tonnes per hectare under demonstration trials.

NASC officials said strengthening the seed system remains central to sustaining these gains. Through its Highway Seed Demonstration Programme and digital seed certification platform, the council aims to ensure that only certified, high-performing seeds reach farmers while preventing adulteration and recycled seed circulation, a major factor previously blamed for low productivity.

Beyond yields, regulators highlighted broader seed sector reforms. Over 60 improved and climate-resilient crop varieties have been released in recent years, while Nigeria exported more than 4,000 metric tonnes of certified seeds in 2023, generating over $8 million in revenue. These numbers signal growing confidence in the country’s seed industry.

Lingering Doubts and Industry Decline

Despite the optimism, the push for genetically modified cotton comes against a backdrop of controversy. Earlier Bt cotton varieties introduced in 2018, MRC 7377BGII and MRC 7361BGII, were expected to raise yields from about 650kg to 4.4 tonnes per hectare. However, leaders of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) later reported that many farmers did not achieve the projected yields, while they complained about high seed costs.

Some producers also raised concerns about soil performance after repeated planting, while civil society groups such as the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) have continued to campaign against genetically modified organisms, citing potential environmental, health and seed sovereignty risks. Similar opposition has trailed other biotech crops, with debates extending to approvals overseen by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).

Nigeria’s cotton industry itself has experienced a steep decline. Between 1980 and 2016, about 145 textile companies reportedly shut down, while the country now imports roughly 90 per cent of its textile products. Imports rose from ₦220.5 billion in 2019 to ₦377.1 billion in 2023, underscoring the sector’s weakened state.

Stakeholders at the field day argued that increasing and stabilising domestic cotton production is critical to reviving ginneries, spinning mills and garment factories, particularly in northern Nigeria, where the industry once provided thousands of jobs.

For farmers, the central question remains profitability. Regulators insist that with proper stewardship, certified seed access, and extension support, the new Bt cotton varieties can deliver better returns through higher yields, reduced pesticide costs and improved fibre quality.

Whether this renewed biotechnology push succeeds where earlier efforts struggled will depend on consistent policy support, transparent performance data, strong farmer education and strict quality control. For now, Nigeria’s cotton revival strategy rests on the belief that science-driven seed systems, carefully managed, can help restore confidence in cotton as a viable commercial crop.