GMW: Lies, damn lies and Malaysians/Compensation ordered for Bt cotton farmers

[Guest guest]

GMW: Lies, damn lies and Malaysians/Compensation ordered for

Bt cotton farmers

" GM WATCH " <info

Sat, 4 Feb 2006 17:28:44 GMT

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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1.Re: India-USA farm pact to help GM research

2.Consumer Forum orders compensation to cotton farmers

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1.Re: India-USA farm pact to help GM research

 

Lim Li Ching of the Third World Network, an international NGO based in

Malaysia, has responded to our recent report on the India-USA 'farm

pact' to promote GM crops. Ching responds, in particular, to the claim

of Madelyn E Spirnak, a Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology

in the U.S. Department of State, that the pact was necessary because

India was lagging behind countries like Malaysia.

 

The U.S. diplomat told her Indian business audience that when it comes

to GM, " India has lagged behind the world " and in particular the

millions of farmers planting GM crops in " developing nations like

China and Malaysia " .

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6197

 

If that leaves anyone with an impression of large numbers of Malaysian

farmers growing GM crops, then consider the following:

 

Dear Jonathan

 

hi, just to clarify - Malaysia had not approved any commercial growing

of GM crops and is, as far as we know, not growing any GM crops on a

commercial basis. There is however, research and some field trials

being conducted. In addition, only RR soya has been approved for

import for food and processing.

 

cheers

ching

 

In other words, apart from some field trials, there do not appear to

be *any* farmers growing GM crops in Malaysia - let alone millions!

 

But perhaps the State Dept's Senior Advisor got Malaysia muddled up

with neighbouring Indonesia. After all, that is the country where

Monsanto achieved commercial approval of its GM cotton first in Asia,

well ahead of India.

 

The problem with that is that GM cotton was a total disaster in

Indonesia, with Monsanto having to pull it out of the country, leaving

behind a legacy of broken promises and illegality, including an

admission of over $700,000 in corrupt payments to officials. In other

words, there are no farmers growing GM crops commercially in Indonesia

either, and the ones that did had every reason to regret it.

 

And it's not looking much rosier for farmers in India - see below for

just the latest demand for compensation for farmers who've made the

mistake of growing Monsanto's crop.

 

This is a technology where only fools rush in and you're doing well

if, despite all the hype and pressure from the U.S. and Monsanto, you

really are lagging behind.

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2.Consumer Forum orders compensation to cotton farmers

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=273259 & sid=REG

 

Guntur (Andhra Pradesh), Feb 03: The Guntur district consumer forum

has directed a multinational company (MNC) to pay compensation of Rs

four lakhs to farmers for supplying sub-standard BT cotton seeds

resulting in poor yield.

 

About 20 farmers from Kommuru and Jggapuram villages in the district

purchased BT cotton seeds from the MNC at an exorbitant price of Rs

1600 per acre and had carried out sowing operation on 40 acres.

 

However, the yield was one quintal less than claimed by the company.

 

The court found that seeds were of sub-standard nature and directed

the company to pay compensation.

 

Bureau Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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