INDIA'S AP TO COMPENSATE CULTIVATORS OF BT COTTON CROPS

DATELINE: HYDERABAD, March 11
Asia Pulse March 11, 2003
Northern Territory Regional

Andhra Pradesh government Monday promised to compensate the farmers
whose Bt cotton crops failed even as the Opposition demanded that
Monsanto Corporation, which introduced the crop, be "blacklisted".

There have been reports that the first genetically engineered cotton
crop in Andhra Pradesh has failed. Voicing concern over extensive
losses suffered by farmers who opted for genetically modified cotton
seeds, introduced by multinational seed major Monsanto, the opposition
Congress members demanded that the company be blacklisted and
compensation be paid to farmers.

While admitting that Bt cotton crop's yield was 'lower than expected
resulting in reduced market value realisation', the state Agriculture
Minister V Shobhanadreshwar Rao said the genetically engineered seed
was only designed to fight 'Bollworm' pest which was the cause of
extensive crop damages in the past. As many as 6,929 farmers in 1,520
villages had raised the cotton crop last year spread over 9.341
hectares in the state. This followed approval for commercialisation of
Bt cotton seeds by the federal government.

"Certain farmers have complained of smaller Boll size and lesser
staple length for Bt cotton compared to other hybrids in the market,"
the Minister said, adding that the farmers would be 'informed about
the experience' gained during the current season.
....
more on the Bt cottonfailure in Andhra Pradesh - Star TV video
http://www.ndtv.com/template/templat...plate=Btcotton
MBt cotton proves a failure in Andhra Pradesh - article
http://www.sunnt.com/news/regional/a...ra.asp?id=7242

Marcus Williamson wrote in message
...

INDIA'S AP TO COMPENSATE CULTIVATORS OF BT COTTON CROPS

DATELINE: HYDERABAD, March 11
Asia Pulse March 11, 2003
Northern Territory Regional

Andhra Pradesh government Monday promised to compensate the farmers
whose Bt cotton crops failed even as the Opposition demanded that
Monsanto Corporation, which introduced the crop, be "blacklisted".

nice to see that someone has a government which supports agriculture.


--
Jim Webster

"The pasture of stupidity is unwholesome to mankind"

'Abd-ar-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Khaldun al-Hadrami'

"Jim Webster" wrote in message
...

Marcus Williamson wrote in message
...

INDIA'S AP TO COMPENSATE CULTIVATORS OF BT COTTON CROPS

DATELINE: HYDERABAD, March 11
Asia Pulse March 11, 2003
Northern Territory Regional

Andhra Pradesh government Monday promised to compensate the farmers
whose Bt cotton crops failed even as the Opposition demanded that
Monsanto Corporation, which introduced the crop, be "blacklisted".

nice to see that someone has a government which supports agriculture.


--
Jim Webster

"The pasture of stupidity is unwholesome to mankind"

'Abd-ar-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Khaldun al-Hadrami'



Would it be unduly cynical to suspect that a high proportion of their
electors make all or most of their living from agriculture?
--
May glorious Shamash make his face to shine upon you

Gilgamesh of Uruk
(Include Enkidu in the subject line to avoid the spam trap)

Gilgamesh wrote in message
...
"Jim Webster" wrote in message
...



Would it be unduly cynical to suspect that a high proportion of their
electors make all or most of their living from agriculture?
--

I merely compared them to the opposition who apparently don't give a
damn about peasants if it means they can make political capital and
upset the government.

I was talking comparatively, not in absolutes :-))


--
Jim Webster

"The pasture of stupidity is unwholesome to mankind"

'Abd-ar-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Khaldun al-Hadrami'


May glorious Shamash make his face to shine upon you

Gilgamesh of Uruk
(Include Enkidu in the subject line to avoid the spam trap)

Marcus Williamson wrote in
:


INDIA'S AP TO COMPENSATE CULTIVATORS OF BT COTTON CROPS

DATELINE: HYDERABAD, March 11
Asia Pulse March 11, 2003
Northern Territory Regional

Andhra Pradesh government Monday promised to compensate the farmers
whose Bt cotton crops failed even as the Opposition demanded that
Monsanto Corporation, which introduced the crop, be "blacklisted".

There have been reports that the first genetically engineered cotton
crop in Andhra Pradesh has failed. Voicing concern over extensive
losses suffered by farmers who opted for genetically modified cotton
seeds, introduced by multinational seed major Monsanto, the opposition
Congress members demanded that the company be blacklisted and
compensation be paid to farmers.

While admitting that Bt cotton crop's yield was 'lower than expected
resulting in reduced market value realisation', the state Agriculture
Minister V Shobhanadreshwar Rao said the genetically engineered seed
was only designed to fight 'Bollworm' pest which was the cause of
extensive crop damages in the past. As many as 6,929 farmers in 1,520
villages had raised the cotton crop last year spread over 9.341
hectares in the state. This followed approval for commercialisation of
Bt cotton seeds by the federal government.

"Certain farmers have complained of smaller Boll size and lesser
staple length for Bt cotton compared to other hybrids in the market,"
the Minister said, adding that the farmers would be 'informed about
the experience' gained during the current season.
...
more on the Bt cottonfailure in Andhra Pradesh - Star TV video
http://www.ndtv.com/template/templat...plate=Btcotton
MBt cotton proves a failure in Andhra Pradesh - article
http://www.sunnt.com/news/regional/a...ra.asp?id=7242




Hi,

the question for me is: what do they mean by "crops failed"? Does that
mean the later stated "Certain farmers have complained of smaller Boll
size and lesser staple length ..."? If so, I would not consider the crops
failed, but the (exaggerated) expectations were not met. Also, how does a
lower harvest compare to a lost harvest (due to the bollworm) or to the
use of pesticides? I am just talking about the costs, not the environment
- I can understand that the environment is one of the "luxuries" a poor
farmer will worry least. The high yield hybrid seeds mostly used nowadays
are often very susceptible to pests. This is known and often considered
the price for the high yield. So, one has to make the decision for
oneself: do I play safe and go for lower yield (and, in this case, lower
quality) by either using naturally resistant varieties (if available) or
GM crops - or do I take the risk and go for a higher, but chancy profit.
AFAIK, the farmers in AP have not been forced to use the GM cotton. But
it seems that they have not been informed very well. Didn't they do any
trials before planting on large areas? That sounds very strange to me.
So, who pushed or deceived them in using those seeds without trials (the
more, that this might have been a variety not well adapted to the local
conditions)?
For me, this "case" just smells of ploitics (in a negative sense) and
mismanagement. The problem here does not seem to be the GM crops per se,
but the apparently irresponsible forecasts for the harvest.
Unfortunately, this case will probably be (ab)used in the already
emotionally overcharged discussion about GM crops.
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers,
Klaus

(Gordon Couger) writes:

I know both farmers that from our land grip about the price but won't buy
anything but GM cotton seed. Both are planing substantial no till cotton
this year. Not only for the cost reductions but to stop erosion and build
organic matter in the soil. The farmer on my home place is very good on
legume rotations keeping about a third of the place in at any one time.

It sounds like your tenant is a good farmer. Take care of the land and
it will take care of you.

What kind of legumes does he plant? Up until they banned DDT, my dad
used to raise hairy vetch for seed (in the PNW). I always heard it was
used as a cover crop in the south, but never knew exactly how. After the
DDT ban, the germination dropped off too much to make it a viable crop.
It has an extended blossom period and needs a really persistent pesticide
to kill the fly that stings the blossom. It was a wonderful rotation
crop that put a lot of nitrogen and humus in the soil. The only way to
raise it now is by repeated spraying of insecticide throughout the
blossom phase, which lasts for weeks. It doesn't pay.

If they GM a strain of vetch with an insecticide that would kill the fly
larvae, it could return as a viable rotation crop.

--
http://home.teleport.com/~larryc