1.Extract and conclusions from: An overview of Bt Cotton experience in Karnataka: 2002 to 2009
2.KISAN SWARAJ YATRA PRESENTS DATA THAT BELIES CLAIMS OF BT COTTON PROPONENTS

NOTE: These findings seem to tie in with the secondary pest problems and insecticide increases accomoanying Bt cotton use in China.
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100513/full/news.2010.242.html

EXTRACT: Presenting data compiled from official records on the past several years of Bt Cotton cultivation in the state of Karnataka [see extracts - item 1], Kavitha Kuruganti of Kheti Virasat Mission pointed out that it is quite apparent that Bt Cotton has not lived up to its claims or promises.

"Data obtained from the Directorate of Agriculture's records show... pesticide usage, including specifically insecticide usage in cotton, has actually been going up in the recent past even though Bt Cotton has spread rapidly in the state... official records [also] acknowledge the surfacing of newer pests like Mirid Bug in Bt Cotton which is causing economic losses too in districts like Haveri. Further, cost of production per quintal of cotton has been showing an erratic trend too, which clearly demonstrates that the costs for farmers have not come down. This should be a good lesson to the government and farmers not to believe in the hype around GM technology", she said. (item 2)
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1.Extract and conclusions from: An overview of Bt Cotton experience in Karnataka: 2002 to 2009

...studies show that the cotton mirid bug Creontiades biseratense (Distant) is an emerging insect pest on Bt cotton in Karnataka, India, causing heavy shedding of squares and bolls which lead to significant reduction in seed cotton yield6. The new insect pest cotton mirid bug (C. biseratense) said to be rampant throughout Karnataka. Results of a systemic study undertaken during 2008-09 on the population level of the bug covering 7 districts, 22 taluks and 88 villages as well as other reports showed that the mirid bug, C. biseratense could be considered as an emerging threat to cotton cultivation in the state which is appearing regularly and damaging squares/bolls heavily.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.    Claims made in support of Bt Cotton either in terms of pesticide usage or yields or economics do not hold as the data presented in this brief review shows.

2.    Insecticide usage in Karnataka in cotton crop has actually increased as per the official NALMOT data presented in this review. This belies the rationale for bringing in Bt Cotton.

3. Secondary data shows that Bt Cotton was working well only in irrigated conditions whereas a majority of cotton cultivation in Karnataka is in unirrigated conditions.

4.    Cost of cultivation per quintal of cotton in Karnataka show fluctuating trends as was the case even before the advent of Bt Cotton. In fact, lower costs were present before Bt Cotton entered the scene, as official data from the recent past shows.

5. Other data on various Bt Cotton hybrids right now in the market from CICR shows that non-Bt Cotton’s average lint yield is higher than the average of the Bt Cotton hybrids studied.

6. In the top five cotton growing districts of Karnataka, the picture with yields is that of dramatic fluctuations and variability across years and districts.

We conclude that Bt Cotton has not delivered on its claims and promises and it is important that the Government of Karnataka takes up an official review to look at the situation, given that field visits are pointing out to lack of supply of any other seeds, leaving very little choices for the farmers of the state.
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2.Press Release: KISAN SWARAJ YATRA ARRIVES IN BANGALORE

*URGES CONSUMERS TO SUPPORT CAUSE OF FARMERS & ECOLOGICAL FARMING

*PRESENTS DATA THAT BELIES CLAIMS OF BT COTTON PROPONENTS

Bangalore/Delhi,October 24, 2010: The pan-Indian bus tour by Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) called Kisan Swaraj Yatra, for the cause of "Food, Farmers & Freedom", reached Bangalore today after spending three days in Karnataka, reaching out to thousands of citizens. Joining the Organic Market in Lalbagh this morning, the Yatra urged urban consumers in Karnataka to support the cause of ecological farming, both to bring our anna daatas out of their crisis and also to ensure that safe food is available for all.

"We have had a tremendous response from farmers all over the state so far; there is a near-unanimous understanding around how the corporate stranglehold over current-day farming is making agriculture unviable and eroding our resources. The Karnataka government has to immediately step up its efforts in promoting ecological farming in the state and set an example for other states to follow. There should be greater efforts to conserve seed diversity, to build capabilities of farmer-breeders and to promote agro-diversity in situ across the state", said Krishna Prasad of Sahaja Samruddha.

Speaking to media representatives at the Institute of Agricultural Technologists (IAT), Kodihalli Chandrasekhar, President, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha said, "We want the government to immediately scrap any agreements with corporations like Monsanto like Project Sahyog and so on since it is apparent from evidence that these corporations are interested only in profiteering at the expense of farmers. We also want the government to direct the State Agriculture Universities to immediately stop any GM crop trials as this would be against the organic farming policies being pursued by the government.

"The USAID-supported Bt Brinjal development project should be immediately cancelled since there is no need for Bt Brinjal, which carries different hazards with it and most importantly, this project is being used for appropriation of farmers' resources. Since native varieties like Mattu Gulla have been conferred with legal recognition under GI Act, it is imperative on the government to step in at least now and scrap the Bt Brinjal development in the state. We also want the state government to take a pro-active role in Central legislations like Seeds Bill and Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill so that farmers' interests are protected".

Presenting data compiled from official records on the past several years of Bt Cotton cultivation in the state of Karnataka, Kavitha Kuruganti of Kheti Virasat Mission pointed out that it is quite apparent that Bt Cotton has not lived up to its claims or promises. "Data obtained from the Directorate of Agriculture's records shows that cotton yields have been fluctuating quite a bit in the top five cotton-growing districts of the state, in the past few years after the advent of Bt Cotton, belying claims of runaway success of Bt Cotton. More importantly, pesticide usage including specifically insecticide usage in cotton has actually been going up in the recent past even though Bt Cotton has spread rapidly in the state. This brings to question the very rationale for bringing in this technology. Thirdly, official records acknowledge the surfacing of newer pests like Mirid Bug in Bt Cotton which is causing economic losses too in districts like Haveri. Further, cost of production per quintal of cotton has been showing an erratic trend too, which clearly demonstrates that the costs for farmers have not come down. This should be a good lesson to the government and farmers not to believe in the hype around GM technology", she said.

A brief review of Bt Cotton in the state from 2002 was released on the occasion. In the evening, Yatris hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu interacted with Bangaloreans explaining why the crisis of farming is a crisis of urban consumers too. "If we do not protect Indian farmers and support them to take up ecological farming, the control over our food and what we get to eat will end up in the hands of big corporations leaving us with very little choices", said the organizers.

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra has so far traveled through Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa after setting off from Sabarmati Ashram on Gandhi Jayanti and would be traveling into Tamil Nadu from Bangalore. This 71-day tour across India is meant to put out a message of hope to farmers across the country, to draw in urban consumers into its fold to support ecological farming and to get the government to take up pro-farmer, pro-Nature steps in Indian farming. The Yatra will cover 20 states before it reaches Rajghat on December 11 th 2010 where it will end.

In Karnataka, it drew support of government representatives, MPs, MLAs, technocrats and thousands of farmers all along its way in various stops like Dharwad, Haveri, Harihar, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Sira and Tumkur. Public rallies and bonfires of GM seeds marked the yatra's visit to Karnataka in addition to seed diversity festivals all along.

For more information, contact:
1. Krishna Prasad, Sahaja Samruddha: 098-808-62058
2. Kodihalli Chandrasekhar, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha: 098-442-93908
3. Kavitha Kuruganti, Kheti Virasat Mission: 09393001550