An institute in Ghana, West Africa, has introduced new pest-resistant cotton varieties to improve production of the cash crop to feed the textile industry. The new pest-resistant cotton varieties are also tolerant to glyphosate in addition to offering insect protection. The Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) cotton is aimed at revamping the cotton industry to feed the textile industries and enhance Ghana’s economy.

The new varieties are expected to produce high quality cotton to revamp the cotton industry which employs a lot of people. Farmers feel the new varieties will help them produce cotton to boost the country’s textile industry, and also generate revenue for the government through exports. They are eager to access the seeds for cultivation.

Meanwhile trials are being undertaken to ensure that all safety precautions are observed to avoid any negative impact on the environment. With BT cotton, farmers can cut down their spraying cost, reduce the impact of the chemicals on their environment, and will be able to save time. With this technology, no manual weeding is needed. It is a matter of spraying twice and killing the weeds, leaving the crop alone. The process aims at developing technologies and innovations that can enhance and sustain agricultural productivity.