GMO Cotton. The government of Kamataka, a state in southwestern India, has decided to ban GM and hybrid cotton seeds following poor crop results. The seeds are produced by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) in close cooperation with Monsanto.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
The Government of Kamataka, a state in the south-west ofIndia, has decided to to ban the seeds of GMO cotton and hybrids as a result of poor crop results. The seeds are produced by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) in close cooperation with Monsanto.
Kamataka is one of the regions where the largest production of Indian cotton takes place. Biotech crops have not proved valid neither in terms of resistance to attacks by insects and parasites, nor in terms of yields. The crop failure caused severe economic losses to the farmers of 7 districts.
After protests from farmers, the government issued a notification to ban the sale of GMO BT and hybrid seeds with immediate effect. To distributors and resellers it was marketing prohibited of the offending seeds. Anyone who does not respect the rules will suffer legal consequences.
The government has also warned farmers of the incident, so that they no longer sow GMO cotton. Farmers have grown BT and hybrid seeds on 510 acres of land in hopes of rich harvests. But the yields obtained did not come close to the promises of the biotech company.
Farmers had used the seeds Mahyco MRC-7351 e Nikkiplus BT. Now they are preparing to sue the company. The government said the ban would remain in effect until further notice. The story particularly involved the districts of Haveri, Belgaum, Chitrandurga, Davangere and Dharwad.
The company advertised its biotech seeds as superior to others, but the results were very different. The cotton fields were attacked by parasites and in most areas the cultivated plants were not productive at all. The Government will move for compensate damaged farmers. The seed ban and lawsuits will create a previous important for future similar cases.
The incident shows that GM crops do not offer the promised guarantees by those who support their dissemination. This is not the first bankruptcy case for GMO cotton. In India, the hybrid and biotech cotton fields have been attacked since "Badly red", a plant disease against which pesticides have had no power. Willing farmers have already found solutions for rice cultivation without resorting to GMOs, thanks to System of Rice Intensification. Now the hope is that a similar method can also be applied to cotton.
Marta Albè
Read also: GMOs:
5 insect pest species immune to Monsanto corn
