EXCERPT: "[The] Centre for Sustainable Agriculture demands that all seed stocks lying in Andhra Pradesh of the 3 [Monsanto] Mahyco varieties be seized by the government immediately before they can enter the illegal channels... Similarly the seed stocks of Bunny Bt and Mallika Bt of Nuziveedu Seeds should be immediately taken over by the government since decision is pending on these varieties too."
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Subject: BREAKING NEWS...Bt Cotton decisions by GEAC today...
Date: Tue, 3 May 2005
From: Kavitha Kuruganti <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

Some good news and some bad news for the farmers of AP... the three [Monsanto] MAHYCO varieties that had applied for extension in the Southern and Central zones have been denied extension in Andhra Pradesh, based on the adverse reports received from the state government here. We congratulate the AP government for their report to the GEAC on these varieties and their real performance on the ground. It is now imperative that farmers who have incurred losses be compensated by the company.

MECH 12 Bt had not been approved for extension in the South but received an extension for the Central zone.

MECH 184 Bt will be continued for 2 more years in the other 5 states.

In the South, 4 more varieties received approval for commercial cultivation - these include two MAHYCO varieties (MRC 6322 BT AND MRC 6198 BT) and 2 Raasi varieties (RCH 20 BT AND RCH 368 BT).

In the Central zone, RCH 144 Bt, RCH 118 Bt, MRC 6301 Bt, Ankur 651 Bt and Ankur 5 Bt (5 new varieties, two of Raasi, one of MAHYCO and two of Ankur) have been approved for commercial cultivation.

The decision on Nuziveedu Seeds' varieties will be taken in the June 8th meeting of GEAC after DNA fingerprinting.

In this context, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture demands that all seed stocks lying in Andhra Pradesh of the 3 Mahyco varieties be seized by the government immediately before they can enter the illegal channels (reports are that advanced bookings for these varieteis are on in many places). Similarly the seed stocks of Bunny Bt and Mallika Bt of Nuziveedu Seeds should be immediately taken over by the government since decision is pending on these varieties too.

Kavitha Kuruganti
09393001550