The Philippines' biotechnology crop planting grew by 14.3 percent to 400,000 hectares despite the typhoons last year but may experience a slowdown in 2010 due to the threat of El Niño.

The planting of genetically modified (GM) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn this year fell below the projected 500,000 hectares based on forecasts made by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

“The weather disturbance slowed down the projected expansion,” said Randy Hautea, ISAAA global coordinator, in a press briefing.

Even this year’s dry weather threats may further drag down planting.

“When you have the problem of drought, there’s little incentive for farmers to plant,” said Hautea, stressing though that any cutback in corn planting will also be true in other agricultural crops.

Despite this, ISAAA Chairman Clive James said in the same press briefing that he believes planting of Bt corn has continued to advance the welfare of farmers, specially the small ones who have no other means to raise their production but through seeds technology.

“Through this technology, you have the opportunity of increasing the productivity and income of small farmers. This technology can deliver 50 percent of the Millennium Development Goal (on reducing hunger),” James said.

Joseph I. Benemerito, a Bt corn farmer in Alfonso Lista in Ifugao, disclosed that in his area alone, already 20,000 hectares are devoted to corn plants of which Bt corn takes up around 90 percent. The area used to be a grazing land for livestock.