Hybrid maize controversy: Nepali officials deny Monsanto deal
- Agronomists say hybrid crops will hit farmers
Amid controversy over the involvement of Monsanto, a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology company, in Nepal’s agriculture sector, it remains unclear if USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) had reached an understanding on allowing Monsanto to develop hybrid maize in Nepal.
Though Nepali officials have disputed a USAID statement issued on September 13, an online petition campaign is underway against the US agency’s decision to introduce Monsanto in Nepal.
Anti-Monsanto campaigners on Facebook say that the introduction of Monsanto seeds will affect farmers in Nepal and irreversibly damage their conventional farms, organic farms and heirloom seeds, not to mention soil degradation and water pollution.
Monsanto, which does business globally, has been criticised for ‘exploiting farmers’ by making them dependent on their seeds as farmers cannot produce the seeds. Even in South Asia, there have been strong protests against the company. However, as the issue became controversial, officials have begun distancing themselves from the issue. “We have no idea why USAID issued the statement saying that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives was partnering with Monsanto. No agreement has been signed,” said Hari Dahal, the joint-secretary at the MoAC.
In the statement on September 13, USAID had said that the MoAC, USAID and Monsanto “have partnered to promote hybrid maize seeds among 20,000 farmers of Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Kavre districts and provide training to them.” Explaining the context in which the issue first emerged, Dahal said a stakeholders’ meeting was held in September to discuss and share prospects of partnership to promote production of hybrid seeds in the country. But no agreement was signed then to implement the project in the country, he said. When asked if an agreement had been signed with the government, a USAID official pointed out the frequently asked questions (FAQ) posted in the USAID-Nepal’s website. The official also said they will only be able to provide more information in a few days from now. The FAQ answers generic questions about the USAID-Monsanto partnership and provides information on hybrid seeds, but it does not answer specific concerns.
According to Dahal, the business proposal to promote hybrid seeds in Nepal was not acceptable to the government. “We have already banned the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the country. We are promoting the use of open pollinated seeds while the use of hybrid and GM seeds is the result of self and cross-pollination.”
Monsanto is the world’s leading producer of GMOs—producing 90 percent of the world’s genetically modified seeds. Hybrid seeds are bred for very special characteristics and traits and are a result of the cross pollination of two different varieties. The USAID statement said Nepal needs assistance in maize production to help farmers reap benefits by producing high corn yields through the introduction of hybrid seeds.
However, agronomists say that hybrid seeds introduced in the past have failed to improve food security.
“Our local breeds are as good as hybrid seeds. However, the introduction of hybrid seeds to help farmers to yield good production in a short span without considering the huge costs involved in it has threatened the existence of our own local breeds,” said Mina Nath Poudel, senior agronomist and scientist at the National Agriculture Research Council (NARC), who has carried out research on open pollinated seed varieties found locally. Once farmers start using the hybrid and GM seeds, they become totally dependent on companies or firms distributing the seeds, Poudel said. The high dependency of the farmers on the companies and firms and the need to invest more on pesticides and fertilizers make the use of hybrid sees rather expensive for Nepali farmers, experts say.
In a recent case in 2010, farmers in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Parsa and Nawalparasi districts demonstrated against the government after their maize crops failed. Under the maize mission programme implemented by the Swiss Development Cooperation, the farmers were provided hybrid maize seeds at subsidised rates by multinational companies. However, the production plunged by 53 percent in the third year of cultivation in these districts in 2010 that left the poor farmers high and dry.
The utter failure of Bt cotton, (a genetically modified seed promoted by Monsanto) in India and Pakistan triggered strong protests. In a recent article, Anil Bhattarai, a columnist with the Post wrote that Nepal is almost self-sufficient in producing maize seeds. The hybrid maize production is sure to disrupt the self reliance of the majority of farmers on open pollinated seeds which is in practice in the country.
Posted on: 2011-11-10 09:04
Post Your Comment
Today's Paper
The Kantipur in Print
FROM THE PAST 7 DAYS
ENTER KEYWORD OR DATE
FROM THE PAST 7 DAYS
ENTER KEYWORD OR DATE
Abin
All of them discussed the issue. The result was the same...and we have committed to continue discussions on the issue till midnight.
ADVERTISEMENTS
OUR PUBLICATION :
