Murdered by Monsanto?
Last night 5 more cotton farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra's cotton growing region of Vidarbha, taking the total to 443 farmers in the growing season since June 2005.
The majority grew Bt cotton which was promoted to poor farmers in India using false and misleading claims as well as unethical practices. (see EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK - THE MARKETING OF BT COTTON IN INDIA) http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5741
Just how disastrous Bt cotton proved for Vidarbha's desperate farmers was revealed by a recent study in Maharashtra which showed the incomes of Bt cotton farmers were 68% lower than the incomes of non-Bt cotton growers. http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6444
Meanwhile, a statutory body investigating charges of monopoly practices filed against Mahyco-Monsanto has found the company guilty of illegal practices and found that the monopolistic and exorbitant rates charged by the company for their Bt cotton varieties was a significant factor in farmer distress. http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6435
Here are the names of the more than 200 farmers in Vidharba who have taken their lives since the beginning of January 2006. As many again suffered a similar fate in the period from June 2005. As already noted, the vast majority of the victims cultivated Bt cotton. ***
List of Vidarbha Farmer suicides since JANUARY 2006 Taken from a list provided by Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti
Name of Farmers
Sahebrao Bhimrao Wankhede
Nandkumar Watane
Chabutai Shrikrushna Nikhade
Madhukar Shriram Shikare
Ramkrushna Sheku Meshram
Mangesh Ambadas Sable
Bhimrao natthuji Bophade
Lonkaran Tukundrao Dongre
Suresh Pandharinath Nagre
Pandit Raibhan Umbarkar
Dayal Raghoji Badkal
Manohar Sampat Pawde
Rama Namaji Kshirsagar
Baldeo Atmaram Warkhade
Gajanan Aknath Jawjal
Ramesh Devidas Jadhav
Kamalabai Chavhan
Devicharan Jagnnath Gaikwad
Ramrao Pancham Patil
Ashok Yashavant Gujjar
Vijay Bhaurao Tekam
Kisan Ganapat Akde
Sunanda Babarao Engole
Yamuna Ramdas Ade
Subhash Shankarrao Shevtkar
Babulal Savalya Bhilawekar
Mahadeo Nakathe
Rambhau Marotrao Shahade
Ramdas Saduji Patil
Sakharam Kashiram Kukare
Anandrao laxman Motghare
Dadarao Bhoyar
Shrirang Surybhan Meshram
Sheshrao lalji Rathod
Hemanth Vishwath Bhasme
Manoj manohar Waghamare
sudam Gopalrao Kandalkar
Sahebrao Mohod
Babarao Natthuji Sable
Vilas Narayan Dhale
Raju Vasantrao Nakhate
Panjabrao Khute
Ajabrao Atmaram Gavande
Baliram Govindrao Kutemare
Pravin Raut
Bhavsing Mithya jadhav
Nanaji Sitaram Batte
Yamunabai umale
Laxman Dattuji Adhav
Dnyneshwar Laxman Bhendare
Raju Vishwash Vidhate
Tulshiram Pandurang Marotkar
Pralhad Laxman Kirtane
Ramdas rajaram Gillari
Bablu Girdhari Brahmankar
nilesh Vishwasrao Nagmothe
Gulsing Ramdhan Rathod
Namdev Amarsing Rathod
Bala Arjun Wasekar
Sudhakar Mahadeo Chaudhari
Nagorao Dupare
Ashok Jadhav
Bhumanna Iranna Annamwar
Mohan Harising Rathod
Govind Narayan Landge
Ganesh Jayram Nikame
Pochu Bira Chittawar
Ambadas Jagan Mundale
Kamalabai Mansing Solanki
Dilip Bhimrao Bambal
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