1.FARMERS TO OBSERVE MAY 1 AS 'BETRAYAL DAY'
2.Battle over Bt cotton hots up
On the mass fasting agitation in Vidarbha, see 'Murdered by Monsanto?' on the impact there of Bt cotton.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6455
Both items shortened.
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1.FARMERS TO OBSERVE MAY 1 AS 'BETRAYAL DAY' WITH FASTING AGITATION AS 7 MORE VIDARBHA FARMERS COMMITTED SUICIDES TAKING TOLL TO 474
MASS FASTING AGITATION
NAGPUR, APRIL 27: ANOTHER SEVEN COTTON GROWING FARMERS WHO COMMITTED SUICIDES IN LAST TWO DAYS IN VIDARBHA (INDIA) TAKING TOTAL TO 474 FARMERS SUICIDES IN THIS KARRIF SEASON SINCE JUNE 2005
VIDARBHA JANADOLAN SAMITI
CONTACT-MOBILE-09422108846
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2.Battle over Bt cotton hots up in AP
SREEKALA G
TIMES OF INDIA, APRIL 27, 2006
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1506572.cms
HYDERABAD: The ongoing battle between the Andhra Pradesh government and seeds company Mahyco Monsanto over compensation to farmers, shows no signs of letting up. While the company says it has expressed its willingness to compensate for 'crop loss', the government is denying that it has received any such proposal.
The state government had banned Monsanto's Mech-162 and Mech-184 varieties of Bt cottonseeds following a 'crop failure' during the kharif season last year. The government had also threatened to cancel the licence of the company if it didn't compensate farmers for poor quality seeds while Monsanto approached the High Court, challenging the government's decision.
Andhra Pradesh agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy told ET: "We want the company to pay compensation of Rs 3,000 per acre to the farmers. During the kharif summer crop last year, the Bt cottonseeds had failed in 25,000 acres in Warangal district. We think the company is accountable for this as it supplied poor quality seeds."
Initially, the state government had agreed for a compensation of Rs 1,500 per acre. "That decision was taken at the district level. Later, an all-party meet at the state level had decided to increase the compensation package," said Mr Reddy.
On its part, Mahyco Monsanto said it had agreed to compensate farmers on humanitarian grounds.