Table 2 Q-sorts value for each statement

TI (n = 15)

 2

Cultivation of GM crops are essential to control pest and grasses

2

1

1^***

 3

No need fertilizer to produce GM crops

− 1^*

− 2^**

3^*

 4

If I do not apply pesticide, the yield of GM crops may reduce

− 2

0

1^**

 9

Farmers would be impacted by issues brought on by the introduction of GM crops

− 2^**

3^**

1

 10

I have no idea how GM crops might affect wildlife and insects that lives on farms

0

1^***

0^*

 11

GM crops have positive impacts on our environment

1^*

0^*

2^**

 12

Eating crops that are GM or not makes no difference to me in terms of safety

1^*

2

1^*

 15

I think it’s better to cultivate GM crops because we should accept technology

2^**

2^*

2^*

 16

Industrial agriculture provides a significant portion of the input for GM crops

1^***

1^***

1^**

 18

Less spraying for GM crops is essential to protect wildlife

3^***

0

− 1^*

 28

GM crops are responsible for exterminating native crops species

− 1

2^*

− 2

 29

Natural genes are added to GM plants are ok but not gens from other species

3^**

2^**

1

 31

Health risk is strongly associated with GM crops

1

1^***

− 2^*

 33

I cannot adopt GM crops because I do not have enough cultivation knowledge

0

− 1

2^**

 36

I am happy because pesticide-and formalin-free crops are possible under this cropping system

3^*

− 3^**

0^*

PBI (n = 21)

 1

Social mobilization is necessary to popularize GM crops

3^*

3^**

3^***

 5

Levelling on GM crops is significant for consumer buying decisions

3^***

1

1^**

 6

Subsidy on essential input of GM crops

3^***

0^*

1^***

 7

We should restrict cultivation of GM crops to all cultivable areas

0^*

3^**

3

 8

We could not cultivate GM crops correctly because we had no experience

2^*

2

0

 13

I want to see GM crops free Bangladesh

− 2

3^***

2^**

 14

We should avoid GM crops because our existing market does not allow such crop

− 3

3^*

0^**

 17

GM crops frequently have lower market prices

2

0

0

 19

GM crops allow for effective supply chain management

2^**

2^*

0^***

 20

I would choose to grow GM crops if there was a higher profit margin for doing so

3^***

− 3

0

 21

Unknown risks to our grandchildren are the potential outcomes of GM crops

− 2

3^***

− 1

 22

GM crops can facilitate food security

3^***

− 2

− 2

 23

We should ban GM crops in our locality

0

0^*

− 1

 24

I might be encouraged to grow GM crops if there is demand from consumers

1^***

− 1

2^**

 25

The introduction of GM crops in Bangladesh enables the control of disease

3^*

− 3

2^***

 26

The introduction of GM crops into Bangladesh would be good for farming practice

2^**

2^*

− 1^*

 27

GM crops are likely to cause no problems with insects, wildlife, and birds

3^*

3^***

2^*

 30

Farmers would benefit from lower costs and increased yields with GM crops

2^***

0

0

 32

I think GM crops would be good for price stability

2^*

0

1^*

 34

We could not cultivate GM crops because consumers have a negative perception

1

2^*

3^***

 35

My relatives and neighbours will support me if I adopt cultivation of GM crops

2

0

2^*