Farmers protest over BT seeds' poor yield
Hindu Business Line, October 18 2004
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/blnus/07181506.htm

VIJAYAWADA: Contending that genetically-modified BT cotton seeds supplied by multinational companies had failed to give the promised yield, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in Andhra Pradesh today announced a State-wide agitation in all mandal and district headquarters on October 23 to press for adequate compensation from the companies.

Addressing a press conference here, AIKS National Vice-President Mr K Nageswara Rao lamented that the farmers had raised the genetically-modified cotton in one lakh acres expecting a yield of 20 to 25 quintals per acre as claimed by the MNCs. But they were able to get only about five quintals per acre as against the normal yield of five to 10 quintals, he alleged.

Pointing out that the State and Central laws were ineffective as these MNCs were governed only by the pro-western World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime, Mr Rao asked the State government to register a criminal case of cheating against the MNCs to ensure adequate compensation for the affected-farmers.

Accusing the Congress-led government in the state of not taking the required steps to mitigate the sufferings of farmers, he claimed that they were forced to end their lives due to problems of spurious seeds and fertilisers as also the unremunerative prices for their produce. - UNI

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