Government-Monsanto nexus to cheat Indian farmers

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GMW: Government-Monsanto nexus to cheat Indian farmers

 

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Sat, 5 Mar 2005 09:18:07 GMT

 

 

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Government-Monsanto nexus to cheat Indian

 

 

 

" The fact that data has been so clearly manipulated in this case,

raises serious doubts about the authenticity of any data that GEAC

would use

to review Bt Cotton. Any decision in favour of Bt Cotton would only

reinforce the fact the even the GEAC has something to gain from

Monsanto-Mahyco. "

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Greenpeace exposes Government-Monsanto nexus to cheat Indian farmers:

calls on GEAC to revoke BT cotton permission.

03 March 2005

INDIA/New Delhi

http://www.greenpeace.org/india_en/news/details?item_id=771071

 

One day before Bt Cotton comes up for review before the Genetic

Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), Greenpeace and Sarvodaya Youth

Organization released the two versions of a report prepared by the Joint of Agriculture (JDA) of Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh.

While the

data in the original report reveals the comprehensive failure of Bt

Cotton in Andhra Pradesh, a second, visibly tampered-with version

exaggerates the yields, thereby reducing Monsanto's compensation

burden by

nearly Rs. 2 Crore.

 

The report was commissioned under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

between the AP government and Monsanto-Mahyco, the agro-chemical company

authorized to market the controversial Bt Cotton seeds. The state

government had signed this MoU with Monsanto-Mahyco, ostensibly to

safeguard

farmer interests, in response to the widespread failure of Bt cotton

across Andhra Pradesh. The report was expected to assess failure of the

Bt Cotton crops, and secure commensurate compensation for farmers.

 

" The falsification of this report is clear evidence of the

corporate-government nexus, " says Divya Raghunandan, GE Campaigner,

Greenpeace

India, " The fact that data has been so clearly manipulated in this case,

raises serious doubts about the authenticity of any data that GEAC would

use to review Bt Cotton. Any decision in favour of Bt Cotton would only

reinforce the fact the even the GEAC has something to gain from

Monsanto-Mahyco. "

 

" In response to a complaint lodged by a local BJP leader in February

this year, the Collector of Warangal District admitted to the

manipulation of the data in the report and ensured them that there

would be an

enquiry into the matter. No action has been taken as yet. The MoU signed

in Andhra Pradesh was supposed to protect the interests of farmers, "

said P. Damoder, Secretary, Sarvodaya Youth Organization, Warangal.

" It is

shameful that it is being abused to protect the commercial interests of

the company instead. "

 

" Lured by the false promises made by the company I sowed 2.5 acres of

Bt Cotton during 2002-03 cotton season. Having incurred a massive loss

of about Rs 25,000, I filed a case against Monsanto- Mahyco and my local

dealer. The company has used every trick in the book to try and

persuade me to drop the consumer case I had filed against them in August

2004, " said T. Ramanaiah, a farmer from Kapulakanaparthy village in

Warangal, " The real truth about Bt Cotton failure is evident in the

field - it

remains to be seen whether the GEAC will acknowledge this truth

tomorrow. "

 

In light of the evidence of gross regulatory failure, Monsanto's

collusion with government agencies and consistent failure of Bt Cotton on

several counts, Greenpeace demands that:

 

.. The GEAC immediately revoke permission to Monsanto's Bt Cotton.

 

.. An enquiry be conducted in Warangal district and farmers be

compensated without further delay.

 

.. The assessment reports of all the Bt cotton growing states must be

made available in public domain.

 

See a part of the doctored document from Narsampet, Andhra Pradesh!

http://www.greenpeace.org/india/reports/ex-summary?item_id=771206 & language_id=en

 

For further information:

 

Divya Raghunandan, Genetic Engineering Campaigner, Greenpeace India

Tel: +91-9845535406, E-mail: draghuna

Vivek Sharma, Media Officer, Greenpeace India Tel: +91-9343788424,

E-mail: vivek.sharma

Namrata Chowdhary, Media Officer, Greenpeace India Tel: +919810850092,

E-mail: namrata.chowdhary

 

 

 

 

 

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