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1.Governor asks MP govt to probe failure of Bt cotton
2.Public must have say in GM rice debate

Interesting if the public in the Communist-Party dominated People's Republic of China end up with more rights on this issue than the people of the USA. (item 2)

EXCERPT: "public participation will not only allow policy-makers to hear various voices of different groups, but more importantly it will raise public awareness of the issue itself."

"Since the issue of GMO rice is just as important as personal income tax, agricultural authorities should also show equal respect for the people's right to know." - China Daily: 'Public must have say in GM rice debate' (item 2)
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1.Governor asks MP govt to probe failure of Bt cotton
ASHOK B SHARMA
Financial Express, November 24, 2005
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=109530

NEW DELHI, NOV 23: Farmers' distress arising out of the failure of Bt cotton In Madhya Pradesh has drawn the attention of the highest office in the state. The governor, Balram Jakhar has asked the state government to find out the causes for failure of Bt cotton which has landed farmers into indebtedness and heavy losses.

Speaking to FE, Mr Jakhar said, "I have asked the state government to find out the causes of failure of Bt cotton. Farmers had purchased Bt cotton seeds at exhorbitantly higher prices with a hope that it would give better yields. But matters have turned different and now farmers are in losses and pushed into indebtedness."

He added, "I have asked the state government to investigate the sale of seeds and find out the persons responsible for the situation. The farmers need to be adequately compensated for the losses." Mr Jakhar is the ex-officio chairman of the country's largest farmers' body, Bharat Krishak Samaj.

According to reports, there is incidence of wilt on Bt cotton fields in Badwani-Thikri belt in Madhya Pradesh in the current season, causing heavy losses to growers of Mech 162 Bt, Mech 184 Bt, Mech 6301 Bt and RCH 2 Bt.

A study done by a network of over 20 local NGOs found that wilt phenomenon is now spreading to non-Bt cotton fields from Bt cotton fields. The network of NGOs ruled out that wilt is a result of any abiotic or as a short-coming in farmers’ practices with Bt cotton.
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2.Public must have say in GM rice debate
China Daily, November 23, 2005
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=11716&start=1&control=207&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1

With its immense influence on the final approval by the Ministry of Agriculture of commercializing genetically modified (GMO) rice, the ongoing three-day meeting of the State Agricultural GMO Crop Biosafety Committee which began yesterday in Beijing deserves attention.

It is reported that applications for the commercialization of four varieties of GMO rice have been submitted for the agricultural authorities' approval this year.

For China, the world's most populous country, large-scale planting of high-yield transgenic versions of rice will be of great significance in feeding its 1.3 billion people, for the majority of whom rice is the staple.

Though ample supply of grain, as dipping domestic grain prices indicate, makes it less urgent to substantially raise grain output right now, many believe that a combination of an aging but still swelling population and shrinkage of arable land will force the country to face possible food shortages in coming decades.

Technologically, modified rice featuring higher yields and less vulnerability to pests is an obvious option.

However, the lasting controversy over biotech crops, namely that they may threaten consumer health and the environment, permits no hurry in the decision-making process.

The national biosafety committee, the technical body which evaluates GMO rice for research and marketing, should play a key role as gatekeeper in ensuring that the country's long-term biosafety will not be compromised by some short-term economic interests.

Consisting of experts from more than 10 key government departments and academic institutions, the committee boasts the best intelligence and understanding of the issue of GMO rice in this country.

We can certainly trust that the committee will make the most of their expertise and exert great prudence in making responsible judgments on the cases put before them.

Yet, given the vital importance of planting GMO rice to the whole nation, we still urge that more transparency be introduced in the decision-making process.

The masses do not have more advanced knowledge about GMO rice than the experts, but public participation will not only allow policy-makers to hear various voices of different groups, but more importantly it will raise public awareness of the issue itself.

Early this year, reports that non-approved GMO rice was discovered in Hubei Province in Central China surprised the nation. Though details of the subsequent investigation remain unclear, a shocking fact that domestic media found was that local farmers know very little about the possible risks of planting GMO rice.

China ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in May this year, showing the country's determination to take a cautious approach on GMOs.

But to effectively protect the country's biosafety against illegal use of GMO rice either for profit or out of ignorance, the authorities are obliged to better raise public awareness on the severity of the problem.

The public hearing the National People's Congress held later September, the first of its kind, to debate the proposed amendment of the personal income tax law has set a commendable precedent for addressing issues of public interest.

Since the issue of GMO rice is just as important as personal income tax, agricultural authorities should also show equal respect for the people's right to know.

Copyright 2005 Chinadaily.com.cn