2-Plants: Indian GEAC defers Bt decision after unclear reports

[GENET <coordination@genet-info.org>]

                                  PART I
------------------------------- GENET-news -------------------------------

TITLE:  GEAC defers final decision on extending Bt cotton approval
SOURCE: The Financial Express, India, by Ashok B. Sharma
        http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=84544
DATE:   6 Mar 2005

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GEAC defers final decision on extending Bt cotton approval

NEW DELHI, MARCH 6: Debate over the success or failure of India's Bt cotton
gains steam, with the regulatory authority last Friday deferring its
decision extending the approval period for three varieties of Mahyco's Bt
cotton.

Mahyco's 3 Bt cotton hybrids - Mech-162 Bt, Mech-12 Bt and Mech-184 Bt —
were cleared for commercial cultivation since March 2002. As the approval
period was for three years, it's due for a review of the performance for
subsequent extension of the approval or otherwise.

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had the performance of
these 3 varieties on its agenda, but the discussion was inconclusive. The
final decision will be taken at the next GEAC meeting on April 13.

Battlelines are drawn between those who claim Bt cotton performance as a
success and those who claim it is a failure. Monsanto India, which has
conducted a study for 2004 season through IMRB has claimed that Bt cotton
yields have increased 58% on a countrywide basis and by 46% in Andhra
Pradesh.

Farmer's incomes have risen 60% across the country, and by 42% in Andhra
Pradesh. Cost on pesticide use has been reduced by 50% on a countrywide
basis and by 65% in Andhra Pradesh. The IMRB study said that gross earning
of farmers on a countrywide basis is Rs 5,977 per acre and Rs 3,923 per
acre in Andhra Pradesh.

Several organisations have contested the study conducted on behalf of
Monsanto (I), saying farmers have incurred huge losses on account of Bt
cotton. The Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) which did an
independent study aided by a team of scientists says that Bt cotton
cultivation has placed the farmers in Medak and Warangal districts in AP at
huge losses.

Promises of higher yields, income and reduction in pesticide use have been
belied. CSA has already presented the findings to GEAC. NGOs like
Greenpeace India, Deccan Development Society, Sarvodaya Youth Organisation
and some farmers' bodies are busy finalising their studies. What has added
fuel to the fire is a study by an expert team deputed by the Andhra Pradesh
commissioner and director of agriculture. This has shown "poor yields of Bt
cotton" in Warangal, and losses for farmers. Based on this report, the
district joint director of agriculture has written to Mahyco Monsanto
India, asking the company to shell out Rs 2,48,85,630 as compensation for
farmers.

The total compensation has been worked out at the rate of Rs 1,469.25 per
acre. As per the MoU between the company and the AP government,
compensation should be paid on account of damages done to farmers. Mahyco
Monsanto Biotech managing director Dr MK Sharma admitted to receiving the
letter. He, however, said: "We have appealed before the state agriculture
commissioner to reconsider the decision."

Divya Raghunandan of Greenpeace India is, not content with the compensation
package sought by the Warangal district authority. She said: "The
compensation of Rs 1,469.25 per acre is too low. It does not cover even the
cost of seeds which is Rs 1,600 per acre."

The district authority has manipulated the yield figures to save the company
from paying more, she added.


                                  PART II
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TITLE:  New GEAC approvals irritate Bt cotton critics
SOURCE: The Financial Express, India, by Ashok Sharma
        http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=84553
DATE:   6 Mar 2005

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New GEAC approvals irritate Bt cotton critics

NEW DELHI, MARCH 6: Though GEAC deferred extending approval period for
several varieties, it has cleared for commercial cultivation six new Bt
cotton hybrids in north India. These are: MRC-6301 and MRC-6304 developed
by Mahyco, RCH-134 and RCH-138 developed by Rasi Seed and Ankur-651 and
Ankur-2534 developed by Ankur Seed.

The GEAC also allowed large-scale field trials for eight varieties of Bt
cotton hybrid - two each of Rasi Seeds and Nuziveedu Seeds, and four of
Mahyco.

Out of the four varieties of Mahyco’s Bt cotton, two varieties have double
Bt genes stacked.

The GEAC action was criticised by farmer leader and the executive chairman
of Bharat Krishak Samaj Krishan Bir Chaudhary. “Farmers have suffered heavy
losses on account of cultivation of approved varieties of Bt cotton, for
which the seed company is liable to pay compensation. Without addressing
this, how can GEAC give approval for commercial cultivation of six new
varieties of Bt cotton?,” he said.

Dr Vandana Shiva of Navdanya and Dr Krishan Bir Chaudhary of Bharat Krishak
Samaj, along with several other NGOs met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and demanded withdrawal of Bt cotton from cultivation.

Dr Devendra Sharma said: “It is a scientific fraud to impose Bt cotton on
farmers.” Dr Suman Sahai of Gene Campaign said: “Bt cotton has failed to
deliver the promises. There is no logic in extending the approval period.”


                                  PART III
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TITLE:  Report slams Bt cotton
SOURCE: The Financial Express, India, by Ashok B. Sharma
        http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=84306
DATE:   3 Mar 2005

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Report slams Bt cotton
* Shows it gave poor yields in AP , * GEAC decision today

NEW DELHI, MARCH 3: A report by an expert team led by Andhra Pradesh
commissioner and director of agriculture has revealed that Bt cotton has
given poor yields in Warangal district and has caused losses to farmers.

The findings have been made available just a day before the genetic
engineering approval committee (GEAC) is slated to take a decision on
whether an extension will be provided to the three varieties of Bt cotton.

Based on the report, district joint director of agriculture M Lakshman Rao
has shot a letter to Mahyco Monsanto India asking the company to shell out
Rs 2.49 crore as compensation to farmers.

The total compensation has been worked out at the rate of Rs 1,469.25 per
acre. As per the MoU signed by the company with the state, compensation
should be paid on account of damages done to farmers.

The three varieties of Bt cotton developed by Mahyco Monsanto — Mech-12,
Mech-162 and Mech-184 — which have completed three years of commercial
cultivation will be reviewed by GEAC on Friday.

Director of Secunderabad-based Centre for Sustainable Agriculture Dr GV
Ramanjaneyulu, who conducted the study with the help of a team of
scientists, has been told to present his views before committee.

Managing director MMB Ltd Dr MK Sharma admitted receiving such a
communication. He, however, said, "We have appealed before the state
agriculture commissioner to reconsider the decision."

Ranjana Smetacek of Monsanto India, on the other hand said, "The study on Bt
cotton performance in 2004 conducted by IMRB on behalf of Monsanto will be
released within a fortnight. What I can grossly is that farmers income has
increased by 60% on account of Bt cotton cultivation. There is an increase
in cotton yield by by 58% and costs on pesticide use has been reduced by
50%."

Meanwhile, Vandana Shiva of Navdanya and Krishan Bir Chaudhary of Bharat
Krishak Samaj along with several other NGOs met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and demanded withdrawal of Bt cotton from cultivation.


                                  PART IV
------------------------------- GENET-news -------------------------------

TITLE:  Do not hype up GM crops, say NGOs
SOURCE: The Hindu, India, by Gargi Parsai
        http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030406171300.htm
DATE:   3 Mar 2005

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Do not hype up GM crops, say NGOs

NEW DELHI, MARCH 3. On the eve of a crucial meeting of the Genetic
Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to review the permission granted to
Monsanto-Mahyco Biotech's Bt cotton varieties, several NGOs have opposed
renewal of permission. According to them, this variety had failed "almost
everywhere.''They have warned the Government against hyping up genetically
modified (GM) crops, which will have a long-term impact on biodiversity and
food security.

Independent activists had challenged the lack of bio-safety measures during
Monsanto-Mahyco field trials at 40 sites in six States. Suman Sahai,
president of Gene Campaign, which has conducted studies for three years on
the Bt cotton performance in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, said there was
"no justification'' for renewal of the conditional approval given three
years ago. Its study shows that farmers had suffered losses with this
cotton and that other local varieties have performed better in all the
States. "Ecological security and bio-safety can be ensured by prohibition
of untested GM crops from entry into the Indian farms and markets since
these propriety GM seeds are undermining bio-safety and ecological
security,'' said Vandana Shiva of Navdanya.

According to Devendra Sharma, a food policy analyst, the GEAC had not
responded to requests by the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security and
others (including the Gene Campaign, Greenpeace, Research Foundation for
Science, Technology and Ecology, Bharat Krishak Samaj and the Centre for
Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad) for being given an opportunity to
explain their position on Bt cotton.


                                  PART V
------------------------------- GENET-news -------------------------------

TITLE:  Greenpeace exposes Government-Monsanto nexus to cheat Indian
        farmers: calls on GEAC to revoke BT cotton permission
SOURCE: Greenpeace India
        http://www.greenpeace.org/india_en/news/details?item_id=771071
DATE:   3 Mar 2005

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Greenpeace exposes Government-Monsanto nexus to cheat Indian farmers: calls
on GEAC to revoke BT cotton permission.

INDIA/New Delhi - One day before Bt Cotton comes up for review before the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), Greenpeace and Sarvodaya
Youth Organization released the two versions of a report
<http://www.greenpeace.org/india/reports/ex-summary?item_id=771206&language_id=en>
prepared by the Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA) of Warangal district,
Andhra Pradesh. While the data in the original report reveals the
comprehensive failure of Bt Cotton in Andhra Pradesh, a second, visibly
tampered-with version exaggerates the yields, thereby reducing Monsanto’s
compensation burden by nearly Rs. 2 Crore.

The report was commissioned under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between the AP government and Monsanto-Mahyco, the agro-chemical company
authorized to market the controversial Bt Cotton seeds. The state
government had signed this MoU with Monsanto-Mahyco, ostensibly to
safeguard farmer interests, in response to the widespread failure of Bt
cotton across Andhra Pradesh. The report was expected to assess failure of
the Bt Cotton crops, and secure commensurate compensation for farmers.

"The falsification of this report is clear evidence of the
corporate-government nexus," says Divya Raghunandan, GE Campaigner,
Greenpeace India, "The fact that data has been so clearly manipulated in
this case, raises serious doubts about the authenticity of any data that
GEAC would use to review Bt Cotton. Any decision in favour of Bt Cotton
would only reinforce the fact the even the GEAC has something to gain from
Monsanto-Mahyco."

"In response to a complaint lodged by a local BJP leader in February this
year, the Collector of Warangal District admitted to the manipulation of
the data in the report and ensured them that there would be an enquiry into
the matter. No action has been taken as yet. The MoU signed in Andhra
Pradesh was supposed to protect the interests of farmers," said P. Damoder,
Secretary, Sarvodaya Youth Organization, Warangal. "It is shameful that it
is being abused to protect the commercial interests of the company
instead."

"Lured by the false promises made by the company I sowed 2.5 acres of Bt
Cotton during 2002-03 cotton season. Having incurred a massive loss of
about Rs 25,000, I filed a case against Monsanto- Mahyco and my local
dealer. The company has used every trick in the book to try and persuade me
to drop the consumer case I had filed against them in August 2004," said T.
Ramanaiah, a farmer from Kapulakanaparthy village in Warangal, "The real
truth about Bt Cotton failure is evident in the field – it remains to be
seen whether the GEAC will acknowledge this truth tomorrow."

In light of the evidence of gross regulatory failure, Monsanto’s collusion
with government agencies and consistent failure of Bt Cotton on several
counts, Greenpeace demands that:

- The GEAC immediately revoke permission to Monsanto’s Bt Cotton.

- An enquiry be conducted in Warangal district and farmers be compensated
without further delay.

- The assessment reports of all the Bt cotton growing states must be made
available in public domain.


See a part of the doctored document from Narsampet, Andhra Pradesh!
http://www.greenpeace.org/multimedia/download/1/771218/0/narasmapet.pdf

For further information:

Divya Raghunandan, Genetic Engineering Campaigner, Greenpeace India
Tel: +91-9845535406, E-mail: draghuna@dialb.greenpeace.org
Vivek Sharma, Media Officer, Greenpeace India
Tel: +91-9343788424, E-mail: vivek.sharma@in.greenpeace.org
Namrata Chowdhary, Media Officer, Greenpeace India
Tel: +919810850092, E-mail: namrata.chowdhary@dialb.greenpeace.org

[for more information see following links]
Genetic Engineering FAQs
The Regulatory Mechanism for GMOs in India
Monsanto - A Profile
Mahyco - A Profile




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