monsanto's bt cotton in andhra pradesh. ©
geert ritsema
“The cost of cultivation for Bt
cotton was 1092 Rupies (US$24) more than
that for non-Bt cotton because there was
only a meager reduction in the pesticide
consumption on Bt crops. On average, there
was a significant reduction (35 percent) in
the total yield of Bt cotton, while there
was a net loss of 1295 Rupies (US$28.50) in
Bt cultivation in comparison with non-Bt
cotton, where the net profit was 5368
Rupies (US$118). Around 78 percent of the
farmers who had cultivated Bollgard this
year, said they would not go for Bt the
next year.”
‘Did Bt Cotton Save Farmers in
Warangal ? A season long impact study of Bt
cotton', Quayum, A. and Sakkhari K.,
2002.
India provides an example of how a
genetically modified crop, Bt cotton, did
not live up to the promises made by biotech
giant Monsanto.
Mahyco, a subsidiary of Monsanto, was
authorized to release genetically modified
cotton in India over a three-year period
between April 2002 and March 2005. The
company launched a huge propaganda drive
promoting the excellent performance of Bt
cotton. They defined Bt cotton as
environmentally safe and economically
beneficial as it would reduce pesticide use
and cultivation costs and result in
increased yields.
When the promotion of Bt cotton started
in one of the states that cultivated GM
cotton, Andhra Pradesh, many farmers bought
the seed hoping to save money, despite the
fact that the Bt cotton seeds cost more
than conventional ones.
empty propaganda
Farmers in Andhra Pradesh grew 8,000
acres of Bt cotton crops in 2002. In early
2003, after one year of experience with
commercial releases, the Minister of
Agriculture of Andhra Pradesh declared that
Bt cotton farmers had not benefited from Bt
cotton. Many farmers were angry at the
propaganda that had made them believe they
were buying miracle seeds.
“The cost of cultivation for Bt
cotton was 1092 Rupies (US$24) more than
that for non-Bt cotton because there was
only a meager reduction in the pesticide
consumption on Bt crops. On average, there
was a significant reduction (35 percent) in
the total yield of Bt cotton, while there
was a net loss of 1295 Rupies (US$28.50) in
Bt cultivation in comparison with non-Bt
cotton, where the net profit was 5368
Rupies (US$118). Around 78 percent of the
farmers who had cultivated Bollgard this
year, said they would not go for Bt the
next year.”
‘
Did Bt Cotton Save Farmers in
Warangal ? A season long impact study of Bt
cotton', Quayum, A. and Sakkhari K.,
2002.
Other regions in India (including Madhya
Pradesh, Maharshtra, Vidarbha, and Gujarat
) had experiences similar to the one
described in Andra Pradesh. For example,
initial reports from Madhya Pradesh claim
that Bt cotton was a 100 percent failure,
and farmers are demanding compensation from
the company
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“The company people came in the
spring. They told me that I could make
more money if I would start using the
newest cotton seeds from the United
States . They said I could get up to
three times more cotton from my land.
The first 60 days everything went fine.
The new cotton was flowering
abundantly. I was full of hope. But
then the tide changed and my hope
turned into despair. Heavy pest attacks
started to occur. I started spraying
the cotton, just like the company
people told me. I applied fertilizer
and irrigated the cotton field three
times. But nothing worked. Most of the
flowers dried out and the cotton bolls
started falling off the plant.
Eventually I only harvested four
quintals (400 kilos), three times less
than the company promised.”
Somakka, a woman farmer from Andhra
Pradesh, India , in January 2004. In
2003, Somakka bought GM cotton seed
from Mahyco-Monsanto, a joint venture
between the Indian company Mahyco and
Monsanto. After her poor harvest she
said she would never buy GM cotton
again.
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