Bt Will Not Boost Yield, 
Says Canadian Analyst 

FEDERATION OF FARMERS ASSOCIATIONS, ANDHRA PRADESH 7jan03

Even as the promoters of biotechnology have been describing BT as a tool to increase agri-cultural production in tune with the rapid increase in population in third world countries, noted agricultural analyst Brewster Kneen has disputed such claims by dubbing them as "absolutely false".

Participating in an interaction meet here today Mr. Kneen, who hails from Canada which took to BT practices 20 years ago, alleged that the Canadian experience had proved that BT crops would in no way help increase crop production. "If the claim that BT crops would help increase agri-cultural production in pace with increase in population was true, why is that there are so many people who go to bed without food in leading BT countries like Canada and US?," he shot back.

Mr. Kneen also had a word of caution for farmers and policy makers of Karnataka who have embraced commercial production of BT cotton. "You are all citizens associated with country's hi-tech city. Hence, you have a tendency to accept any-thing hi-tech even if it is not feasible as you are apprehensive that you would go against the "hi-tech image" if you raise your voice against such things."

Pointing out that most of the farmers, who took to BT in Canada, were returning to the traditional mode of farming after burning their fingers, Mr. Kneen asked farmers of Karnataka to learn from the experiences of their Canadian counterparts.

He alleged that the Canadian experience had proved that Genetically Modified (GM) crops were not beneficial as they would only lead to increase in weeds and pests. This would benefit only the seed manufacturers, he remarked.

Mr. Kneed, who has recently published a book Invisible Giant: Cargill and its transnational strategies, also expressed concern over the genetic pollution caused by GM crops. Cultivation of GM variety of canola crop in Canada had resulted in spreading weeds in farmers' fields.

He observed that even the legal system had not been strengthened to protect farmers from disputes that may arise from genetic pollution caused by GM crops.

He said GM crops were causing genetic pollution and crop varieties were crossing over as weeds in the neighbouring farms. Citing an example, he said a seed company had filed a suit against an innocent farmer charging him with unauthorised growing the company's GM crop, though it was the company's own fault.

He also alleged that most of the private BT companies were spending a huge sum on publicity just to cover up failures and dissatisfaction, caused among farmers.

CONTACT:
Federation of Farmers Associations, Andhra Pradesh 
Flat No. 209, 
Vijaya Towers, 
Shanthi Nagar, 
Hyderabad - 500 028, 
Andhra Pradesh, 
India. 

Phone (91)-40-3319643 
Fax (91)-40-3319643 
indian_farmers_federation@yahoo.com
http://www.indianfarmers.org 

source: http://www.indianfarmers.org/show.php?dtype=a&id=article12123.html 7jan02