Storm of protest in India against Bt crops/HALT APPROVAL FOR MAHYCO-MONSANTO

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GMW: Storm of protest in India against Bt crops/HALT APPROVAL

FOR MAHYCO-MONSANTO

 

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 09:35:48 +0100

 

 

 

 

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http://www.gmwatch.org

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1.Storm of protest against nod for more Bt crops

2.HALT APPROVAL FOR MAHYCO MONSANTO BT COTTON

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1.Storm of protest against nod for more Bt crops

ASHOK B SHARMA & BV MAHALAKSHMI

Finacial Express, 17 April 2005

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=88237

 

NEW DELHI, HYDERABAD, APRIL 17:

 

Farmers' groups and civil society organisations across the country have

expressed deep concerns over the country's regulatory authority

approving new biotech (Bt) cotton hybrids for cultivation in new areas

when

the case for extension of the approval period for three such varieties

under cultivation has become controversial.

 

As part of the Global Week of Action (GWA) being celebrated worldwide,

several civil society and farmers' groups have stepped up the campaign

against " unwarranted approval of new Bt cotton hybrids, when the case

for old varieties remains undecided. "

 

The country's regulatory authority, Genetic Engineering Approval

Committee (GEAC) has so far approved six new Bt cotton hybrids for

commercial

cultivation in north India in the current season. At its last meeting

on April 13, the GEAC approved one new Bt cotton hybrid for commercial

cultivation in central India and 12 such transgenic cotton varieties are

in pipeline for commercial cultivation in central India.

 

In March 2002, three Bt cotton hybrids developed by Mahyco Monsanto,

namely Mech-162, Mech-12 and Mech-184 were approved for commercial

cultivation in south and central India. This approval period expired

on March

31, 2005. The GEAC, which deliberated twice on the proposal for

extension of the approval period, could not decide on the issue as the

Andhra

Pradesh government had given unfavourable reports about the performance

of Bt cotton. The GEAC is awaiting favourable reports from other states

before giving its nod for the extension of the approval period for

these three varieties.

 

Some civil society groups have conducted scientific studies, which show

the failure of Bt cotton in south India. The Secunderabad-based Centre

for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) conducted a study under the

leadership of Dr GV Ramanjaneyulu and entomologist Dr SMA Ali, which

showed the

failure of Bt cotton in Warangal and Medak districts of Andhra Pradesh.

A similar study conducted by Dr Abdul Qayum and Kiran Sakkhari on

behalf of the Deccan Development Society (DDS), Andhra Pradesh

Coalition in

Defence of Diversity and Permaculture Association of India bared

farmers suffering from heavy losses on account of Bt cotton

cultivation. The

district authority of Warangal has asked Mahyco Monsanto to compensate

the farmers for the losses.

<p>Also, studies conducted by the Gene Campaign, Research Foundation

for Science, Technology and Ecology and Greenpeace India have shown the

failure of Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil nadu.

Eminent scientist and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Pushpa M Bhargava has

gone on

record saying that Bt cotton has failed to live up to expectations. So

far, only one survey which was conducted by an advertising and market

research agency, IMRB on behalf on Monsanto India has attested to the

success of Bt cotton cultivation. However, the CSA has refuted

point-by-point the survey conducted by IMRB.

 

As part of the GWA campaign, a two-day international consultation on Bt

cotton was organised by DDS and Genetic Resources Action International

(GRAIN) in Hyderabad. Farmers' groups and civil society organisations

from Bangladesh, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Nepal, the

Phillipines, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand, who gathered for this

conclave called `Southern Encounters' expressed concerns over the

deliberate thrusting of transgenic technology in farmers' fields at

the cost

of genetic pollution, environmental degradation and health hazards.

Local farmers' groups from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra

narrated their experiences of incurring losses on account of Bt cotton

cultivation.

 

" The use of transgenic crops has unleashed new hazards into our farms.

The profit-driven life science industry is more life-destroying than

life-giving. Newer evidences and ever-growing failures of promise and

performance of both the products and the corporate interests marketing

them reveal darker truths about this technology. Claims of increased

yields, reduced pesticide and larger profits for farmers have proved

to be

false. On the contrary, it has increased their losses. This was the

essence of the two-day deliberations, " said PV Satheesh, Convenor, Deccan

Development Society.

 

Among the notable participants in the Hyderabad Southern Encounters

were Collen Ross and Jennifer Bromm of National Farmers' Union of Canada,

Lawrence Mkhaliphi of Biowatch, South Africa, Hira Jhamtani,

Konphalindo, Indonesia, Lim Li Lin of Thrid World Network, Malaysia,

Vladimir

Riveria of GRAIN, The Philippines, Witoon Lianchamroon of BioThai,

Thailand. Noted Indian scientist Dr MV Rao also participated.

 

In New Delhi, the National Kisan Panchayat organised a one-day seminar

on 'Globalisation and Indian Agriculture' on April 16, where former

Union agriculture minister Chaturanan Mishra, farmers' leaders like Atul

Anjaan, Dr Krishna Bir Chaudhary, Naresh Sirohi and civil society groups

like Gene Campaign participated. As a follow-up to the GWA, Kheti

Virasat and Punjab Organic Farming Association have planned a 'Peoples

Dialogue on GM Crops' and Organic Cotton Workshop.

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2.HALT THE NEXT CYCLE OF APPROVAL FOR MAHYCO MONSANTO BT COTTON

 

~~Bt cotton results from Andhra Pradesh say Mahyco Monsanto Bt cotton

failed on all counts

 

MEDIA RELEASE, April 12, 2005

 

The firstever independent scientific study on bt cotton done on season

long basis continuously for three years has come out with stratling

disclosures that uncovers the false claims surrounding the

Mahyco-Monsanto's Bollgard in Andhra Pradesh

 

The results from the three year study have provided conclusive evidence

to say that almost every one of the claims have been very economical

with truth. Let us begin with a comparative performance of

Mahyco-Monsanto Bt hybrids vis a vis non Bt hybrids popular among

farmers in the

region.

 

The study Bt Coton in Andhra Pradesh: a three year assessment is a

dispassionate report that captures farmers' engagement with Bt cotton,

their resultant economics and the ultimate desperation.

 

On the other hand, an associated film Bt Cotton in AP; a three year

fraud, brilliantly captures the mood and feelings of the farmers as they

are led up the garden path by the false promises of a ruthless industry.

Both these are historic documents in analysing the impact of Bt cotton

in India.

The Monsanto Corporation makes a claim that Bt Cotton returns socio

economic benefits to smallholder farmers globally. [from Monsanto

Website]

..

 

To evaluate this claim, the study justifiably wanted to see how small

farmers, especially under the rainfed conditions benefited from this

scientific miracle. It therefore kept its focus sharply on this

section of

farmers.

 

And now, what does the study reveal?

 

Table 4 - see end

 

* Mahyco-Monsanto Bt cotton, Bollgard, has failed miserably for small

farmers in Andhra Pradesh, India, in terms of yields.

 

While the three year average yield from Bollgard cotton for small

farmers, has remained at around 650 kgs per acre, the yield for small

farmers under rainfed conditions in 2005 from Bt is just about 535

kgs. The

same farmers got 150 kgs more yield from growing non Bt hybrids under

the same conditions as Bt. Thus non-Bt has surpassed Bt in terms of

yield by nearly 30% with 10% less expense. Therefore Bt has failed the

farmers twice over in terms of yield.

 

* Bollgard Cotton did not reduce pesticide use.

 

Actually the volume of pesticide use by Bt farmers and Non Bt farmers

was so thin that it was untraceable. Bt farmers on an average bought and

used Rs. 2571 worth of pesticide while the non Bt farmers bought and

used Rs.2766 worth of pesticides over three years. The difference is

barely around 7% of the pest management costs and an invisible 2% of

their

total cultivation costs.

 

* Bollgard did not bring profit to farmers

 

The three year average tells us that the non-Bt farmers earned 60% more

than Bt farmers. In actual fact, in place of profit, Bt cotton,

especially the Mahyco Monsanto varieties, brought untold miseries to

farmers

culminating in violent street protests and the burning of seed outlets

in the city of Warangal. Farmers tied up Mahyco Monsanto

representatives in their villages and the police had to go and rescue

the hapless

salesmen.

 

* Bollgard did not reduce the cost of cultivation

 

Looking back, it is evident that farmers had to spend not only 3-4

times more for the Mahyco-Monsanto's proprietary Bollgard seeds but

had to

take extra care to manure, irrigate and look after their precious Bt

crop. Many farmers, especially in the rainfed areas, spent at least a

couple of thousand rupees more per acre in comparison to their non Bt

hybrids. On an average, the Bt farmers had incurred 12% more costs in

cultivating their Bt crops in comparison with their non Bt fraternity.

 

* Bollgard did not generate healthier environment.

 

On the contrary. Our researchers have a strong feeling that a special

kind of root rot was being spread by Bollgard cotton. Farmers came out

with complaints that they were not able to grow crops like chilli after

harvesting Bt crop because it had infected their soil very badly. As

against this, the soil in which the farmers grew non-Bt hybrids was

extremely friendly to other crops. This is an early warning and needs

active research by soil scientists and plant pathologists immediately.

One of the dangers in the horizon is the extended life of American

Bollworm which the Bt cotton has facilitated. The American Bollworm,

Helicoverva Armighera, used to appear on cotton fields around the 60th

day of

cotton. But since the advent of Bt Cotton, it has started appearing

from 45th day itself. And stays for the next six days and establishes

itself strongly spreading to other non Bt crops far more vigorously than

before. Thus Bt cotton which came with the promise of eliminating

Heliothis has helped it to survive even more strongly.

 

On all counts, the Mahyco-Monsanto Bt hybrids had failed the farming

community in Andhra Pradesh.

But with an unimaginable audacity, the industry commissioned a study to

a market research agency [recall that in 2004 also the company had

commissioned the study to another market research agency and not to

scientists or development economists] and with its now well known data

manipulation tactics, claimed that the AP farmers had gained five fold

from

Bollgard, compared to their non Bt hybrids. Hundreds of farmers, who have

testified in the study as well as in the film, have repeatedly told us

how the Bollgard cultivation had ruined them totally. In the face of

this reality, the claim by Mahyco Monsanto is an example of dark humour

and can easily earn them the Lie of the Century award.

 

* WE STRONGLY DEMAND FROM THE GENETIC ENGINEERING APPROVAL COMMITTEE OF

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA THAT THEY WITHHOLD THE LICENSE FOR NEXT THREE

YEARS TO THE BOLLGARD BT HYBRIDS OF MAHYCO MONSANTO.

 

* WE DEMAND FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH THAT THEY IMMEDIATELY

TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT THE SALE OF THESE SEEDS FOR THE 2005-2006 SEASON

WHICH IS CLANDESTINELY GOING ON ALREADY.

 

* WE ALSO DEMAND FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH THAT THEY

IMMEDIATELY ORDER A JUDICIAN ENQUIRY INTO THE INCIDENTS WHERE THE

OFFICIAL

AGENCIES HAVE EITHER SUPPRESSED THE TRUTH OR MANIPULATED IT TO FAVOUR THE

COMPANY AND PUNISH THE GUILTY.

 

* IN THE SAME PROCESS, WE DEMAND A COMPLETE ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE

SMALL FARMERS WHO HAVE BEEN RUINED BY THEIR BT COTTON FARMING AND GET

MAHYCO MONSANTO PAY THEM IMMEDIATE COMPENSATION. MAHYCO MONSANTO SHOULD

BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SPREADING IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS THAT ARE RUINING

FARMERS LIVES.

 

* WE STRONGLY DEMAND THAT THE STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES AND

RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IMMEDIATELY START AN INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY INTO THE

PHENOMENON OF EXTENDED HELIOTHIS LIFE AND SOIL PATHOGENS AND SAVE LONG

TERM

DISASTER TO OUR SOILS AND OUR ENVIRONMENT.

 

* FINALLY WE DEMAND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A MORATORIUM ON GENETICALLY

ENGINEERED CROPS IN INDIA FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS UNTIL A WIDE PUBLIC

DEBATE IS HELD ON THE ISSUE. FARMERS JURIES INVOLVING VERY SMALL FARMERS

AND WOMEN MUST BE HELD TO ESTABLISH THE TRUTH ABOUT BT COTTON.

 

[P V SATHEESH]

CONVENOR, A P COALITION IN DEFENCE OF DIVERSITY

DIRECTOR, DECCAN DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY

 

Table 4: Three-year averages of Mahyco-Monsanto hybrids and Non-Bt

hybrids

Description (Costs / acre) A three year average

Mech Bt Non Bt Gain with Bt

Seed cost (Rs/acre) 1557 (13.4%) 466 (4.5%) -1090 [- 234%]

Pest management cost (Rs/acre) 2571 (22%) 2766 (27%) 195 [+ 7%]

total costs of cultivation (Rs/acre) 11594 10336 -1259 [- 12%]

Net returns (Rs/acre) 2032 4787 -2755 [- 57%]

Yield (kg/acre) 649 708 -59 [- 8.3]

 

 

 

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