Remember how Mahyco-Monsanto has been hyping its most recent survey, claiming big benefits for farmers from its GM cotton in India, with Andhra Pradesh being showcased as a particularly successful state?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1071820,curpg-2.cms
Well yesterday India's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee deferred any decision on extension of the period of approval for three Bt cotton hybrids of Mahyco-Monsanto "on account of adverse reports from Andhra Pradesh government." (see below)
The AP government's reports tally with what farmers have been complaining about and what NGOs and non-industry-sourced studies suggest. (Bt cotton almost total failure - study)
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5103
Indeed, there is evidence that the AP Government, under industry pressure, may even have understated the problems that Bt cotton farmers have suffered.
The problem of industry generated research is well known and has even been itself the subject of scientific study. As the British medical journal The Lancet has commented, "All policymakers must be vigilant to the possibility of research data being manipulated by corporate bodies and of scientific colleagues being seduced by the material charms of industry. Trust is no defence against an aggressively deceptive corporate sector."
Devinder Sharma has given an insight into how industry-guided sureys can go wrong. A couple of years back experts conducting a Monsanto-accompanied survey were quietly trailed by another team "comprising representatives from three NGOs... They interviewed the same farmers who were earlier visited by the expert team, and their testimony before the video camera exposes the rot in scientific assessment and analysis."
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5096
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GEAC approval for only one Bt cotton variety
ASHOK B SHARMA
Financial Express, Thursday, April 14
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=87835
NEW DELHI, APRIL 13: - The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has approved only one variety of Bt cotton hybrid out of the 13 listed for commercial cultivation in 2005 season in central India. It has also okayed large-scale field trials for three transgenic cotton varieties in north India.
The decision on extension of the period of approval for three Bt cotton hybrids of Mahyco was deferred on account of adverse reports from Andhra Pradesh government. These Mahyco varieties, namely Mech-12 Bt, Mech-162 Bt and Mech-184 Bt, were approved for sowing in central and southern parts of the country. The approval period ends in 2004 season. GEAC has asked reports from other state governments about the performance of these three varieties. The next meeting of GEAC is scheduled on May 11.
RCH-138 variety of Bt cotton hybrid developed by Rasi Seed Ltd was approved for commercial cultivation in central India. Other three varieties of Rasi Seed, which were listed in the agenda, were not approved in absence of adequate reports from the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), and Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC). Similar is the case with the four Bt cotton hybrids of Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd, three of Mahyco and two of Ankur Seeds.
The three transgenic cotton seeds approved for largescale field trials in north India are JKCH-1947 of JK Agri, NEC-ER Bt of Nath Seeds and 02-50 VIP of Syngenta Seeds India. The cotton seed developed by Syngenta does not contain Bt technology, but a transgenic technology of a different kind called VIP technology.
Dr Suman Sahai of the Gene Campaign, who made her presentations before the GEAC about the failure of Bt cotton, alleged that only five minutes were allowed to her. She accused GEAC chairman Suresh Chandra of saying that the government is not answerable to the NGOs. Dr Sahai demanded that GEAC, before taking final decision, should consult the NGOs and not just take inputs from the NGOs.