EXCERPTS: In 1997, when Warangal cotton farmers committed suicide, genetically modified Bt cotton was touted as a solution.
Four years after Bt cotton was introduced in Andhra Pradesh, the solution seems to have become part of the problem.
...according to an independent study, of the 57 farmers who have committed suicide in the same period, 50 grew Bt cotton.
It's an ironic situation, considering Bt was brought in as a solution to cotton farmer suicides
When YSR Rajasekhara Reddy took charge in May 2004 as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he had said not even one farmer would commit suicide from now on.
Twenty months later, farmer suicides have come down, but only in government statistics [rather] than on the killing fields of Andhra Pradesh.
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Farmers hit by failed Bt cotton crop in AP
NDTV Correspondent
NDTV, January 24, 2006
(Warangal): In the 1980s, when cotton farmer suicides were reported in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, synthetic pyrethroids were brought in as the solution.
In 1997, when Warangal cotton farmers committed suicide, genetically modified Bt cotton was touted as a solution.
Four years after Bt cotton was introduced in Andhra Pradesh, the solution seems to have become part of the problem.
Failed crop
Chandraiah, a farmer in Gopanapally village in Warangal district committed suicide after his crop failed.
His wife Swarnakka does not even know if he drank pesticide, because she had no money to take him to hospital. Even his last rites were performed with money villagers contributed.
"We have huge loans. My son-in-law abandoned our only daughter because we could not pay dowry. The debt must be Rs 40,000 already. The crop loss broke my husband. I don't even know what he did to himself," said Swarnakka, farmer's widow.
Chandraiah's last hope had been the Bt cotton he grew on land that he took on rent.
Everyone in his native village opted for Bt cotton this year even though the seeds were almost four times the usual cost, because they were told there would be no pests.
Expenses mount
But pests destroyed the crop and no one got beyond five quintals against the promised 10-15 quintals an acre, and that too, only after spraying pesticides.
"They said there is no need to spray pesticides on Bt cotton. But these pests came. The rain also spoilt the crop. Now all is gone," said Yelliah, a farmer.
"Non-Bt seeds cost Rs 400. This costs Rs 2,700. And we still had to spray pesticides. We could not even recover our investment, or even the cost of seed," said Sai Malli, another farmer.
Other farmers say the problem is also partly due to spurious seeds in the market. They say that non-Bt seeds are being packed in old Bt seed boxes and sold in the market.
Out of the 4,00,000 acres under cotton in Warangal district this season, an estimated 40-50 per cent was Bt cotton.
And according to an independent study, of the 57 farmers who have committed suicide in the same period, 50 grew Bt cotton.
It's an ironic situation, considering Bt was brought in as a solution to cotton farmer suicides due to heavy expenditure on pesticide.
Questions raised
Observers point out that the reasons for agrarian crisis in Andhra Pradesh have not changed.
There is no significant increase in institutional credit and dealers selling seed, fertilizer and pesticides double up as private lenders.
Extension services are weak, so there is no timely, reliable advice and marketing remains a problem. Bt has become the icing on the cake.
When YSR Rajasekhara Reddy took charge in May 2004 as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he had said not even one farmer would commit suicide from now on.
Twenty months later, farmer suicides have come down, but only in government statistics than on the killing fields of Andhra Pradesh.
With Rs 1 lakh compensation also to be paid to widows of farmers, the pressure is very much on the government to point to reasons other than the agrarian crisis as the reason for the farmer's ultimate step of desperation.
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