Great article from the Indian journalist, Ashok B Sharma, about how to judge the uptake of GM cotton by farmers there. Monsanto and its supporters point to a growing uptake of Bt cotton as a ringing endorsement of the technology but Sharma - the agricultural correspondent of India's Financial Express - points out that, "in an era of growing consumerism, there is always a tendency to choose newer and newer brands of products" and that "farmers as consumers of seeds are no exception."

That tendency has been exploited by companies like Monsanto who have hyped the supposed benefits of Bt cotton. And the companies have enjoyed the assistance of "friends like the Punjab chief minister, Captain Amarinder Singh" who have done their PR job for them. Last year "Mr Singh involved the state agencies in promotion of sales of Bt cotton seeds. He even went public in campaigning for Bt cotton."

Sharma also points out that figures can be misleading. "We have in this country an increase in suicide rate among farmers, in the midst of agriculture growth."

And even India's pro-GM regulatory body - the GEAC - on reviewing 3 years of performance of Bt cotton In Andhra Pradesh - one of the first states where GM cotton was grown - came to the conclusion that the 3 Monsanto varieties grown there had failed to deliver. It consequently "banned the cultivation of these three hybrids in Andhra Pradesh (AP). Mech-12 was banned for cultivation in the entire southern zone. Farmers growing Bt cotton were put to heavy losses, and the AP government asked the seed company, Mahyco-Monsanto, to compensate the farmers. The company, however, is reluctant to reimburse the farmers for their losses."

Sharma concludes, "...There are reports about failure of Bt cotton in different parts of the country. But GEAC has been quick in approving new Bt hybrids, without assessing the performance of those already under cultivation. This year it approved 43 new Bt cotton hybrids. With this, the total number becomes 59, out of which Monsanto charges royalty for 52 hybrids. It is reluctant to reduce its royalty and is interested to earn more profits."
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It's a blind run for Bt cotton hybrids
FARM FRONT Column
ASHOK B SHARMA Financial Express, June 05, 2006
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=129441

With the arrival of the South-West Monsoon, sowing of cotton and other crops has begun for the summer season. In this season, 59 approved Bt cotton hybrids are likely to be sown. Biotech industry is upbeat with the spate of new approvals by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC). They have launched their aggressive marketing strategies to sell large stocks of seeds. They expect that the area coverage under Bt cotton will rise to 3.5 million hectare this year.

That the area under Bt cotton would increase this year would not be surprising. Biotech companies know very well how to dispose off their stocks through aggressive marketing strategies. They have friends like the Punjab chief minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, to do the job for them. In the previous year, Mr Singh involved the state agencies in promotion of sales of Bt cotton seeds. He even went public in campaigning for Bt cotton.

In this era of growing consumerism, there is always a tendency to choose newer and newer brands of products - be it air-conditioner, car, TV set or washing machine. The companies know the tendency of class customers, and accordingly design their brands and change their strategies. Farmers as consumers of seeds are no exception. They keep on trying different varieties of seeds which come into the market.

The increase in area coverage under different new varieties of Bt cotton, therefore, cannot be the sole criteria for concluding that Bt cotton is gaining wide acceptance among farmers. Bt cotton is entering the fifth year of its commercial cultivation in India. It is too short a period to judge the acceptance or rejection of Bt cotton in a vast country like India.

In the first two years, three varieties of Bt cotton hybrids - Mech-12, Mech-162 and Mech-184 - were in cultivation in south and central India. The area coverage in the first year was 44,500 hectare (ha), which increased to 1 lakh (100,000) ha in the second year. With the approval of RCH-2 (of Rasi Seeds) for the same regions, the area coverage marked a five-fold increase to 5 lakh (500,000) ha in 2004. Does this explain the wide acceptance of Bt cotton? Figures are often misleading. We have in this country an increase in suicide rate among farmers, in the midst of agriculture growth.

After the review of 3-year performance, the GEAC came to the conclusion that Mech-12, Mech-162 and Mech-184 have failed to give results in Andhra Pradesh. It banned the cultivation of these three hybrids in Andhra Pradesh (AP). Mech-12 was banned for cultivation in the entire southern zone. Farmers growing Bt cotton were put to heavy losses, and the AP government asked the seed company, Mahyco-Monsanto, to compensate the farmers. The company, however, is reluctant to reimburse the farmers for their losses.

With 3 years of cultivation of Mahyo-Monsanto’s three Mech Bt hybrids in AP, the area coverage did not increase beyond 80,000 hectare. RCH-2, approved for cultivation in 2004 increased the area coverage to some extent. With the withdrawal of three Mech Bt hybrids from cultivation in AP in 2005, and with the approval of six new Bt cotton hybrids of different companies, the coverage in the state shot up to 2.8 lakh (280,000) ha. It is clear that in 2005, farmers, disappointed with the failures of Mech Bt hybrids, tried their luck with the new approved Bt hybrids. Andhra Pradesh is just one instance.

In 2005, 16 new Bt cotton hybrids were approved, and for the first time north India was allowed to cultivate Bt cotton. The area coverage under Bt cotton increased to 13 lakh (1.3 million) ha. However, this area is insignificant as compared to the total area under cotton crop, which is about 0.9 - 1 crore (9 to 10 million) ha.

There are reports about failure of Bt cotton in different parts of the country. But GEAC has been quick in approving new Bt hybrids, without assessing the performance of those already under cultivation. This year it approved 43 new Bt cotton hybrids. With this, the total number becomes 59, out of which Monsanto charges royalty for 52 hybrids. It is reluctant to reduce its royalty and is interested to earn more profits.