International Institute for Environment and Development 
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| International Institute for Environment and Development |
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May 23, 2005 |
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"Moratorium" on GM Cotton is Vital to Protect Small Farmers and Their Environment Says Indian ActivistLondon, May 23rd 2005 –- The environment and the livelihoods of small farmers in developing countries risk being ruined in the global rush to open up cotton markets to genetically modified crops. "Small farmers are being used as guinea pigs and are paying for the privilege," said PV Satheesh, who heads the Coalition in Defence of Diversity which led a study in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh resulting in several GM cotton seeds being banned this month. "Companies are selling GM seeds at commercial prices and, when the crops fail, small farmers are left footing the bill without compensation." The three-year scientific study started in 2002 and tracked the experiences of small farmers from planting to harvest in the Warangal district. It found that three GM cotton varieties did not live up to the claims made by the agro-company Maycho-Monsanto and performed less well than traditional non-GM seeds. Though costing nearly 400 per cent more to buy, the average yield from the GM cotton was about 150kgs per acre (30 per cent) less than from other non-GM varieties. The GM seeds cost 12 per cent more to cultivate - manure, irrigation etc - and the reduction in pesticide use was negligible. Non-GM farmers earned 60 per cent more than their GM counterparts over the three year period. Following the study, in early May this year, the Indian Government's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee withheld licenses for commercial cultivation on three Bollgard varieties: Mech-12 Bt, Mech-162 Bt and Mech-184 Bt. PV Satheesh said: "This is a small but significant victory that signposts a way forward for small farmers and civil society the world over. But only a moratorium on the commercial release of GM cotton seeds will ensure that the Andhra Pradesh tragedy is not repeated across Asia, Africa and Latin America." Uniquely, the scientific study was backed up by testimonies from small farmers captured on video by women farmers from the Deccan Development Society Community Media Trust. This film evidence, which received support from the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development and the development charity Find Your Feet, documents the human and economic tragedy that unfolded in Warangal. Dr Michel Pimbert, Director of the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods Program at IIED, said: "Rich government leaders are hotly debating the development agenda, but, sadly, small farmers and others such as the urban poor go largely unheard. This democratic deficit is harming both people and environment. For policies and risk assessments to be effective, we need a much greater political and financial commitment from the international community to listen to and act on the voice of the people in the frontline of sustainable development." For further information, please contact: Tony Samphier, tel: +44 (0)20 8671 2911, Janet Boston at IIED on 44 (0)20 7388 2117, Catriona Fox at Find Your Feet on 44 (0)207 326 4601 Copyright © 2005 International Institute for Environment and Development. |
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