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.lobbywatch.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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