Thread: Thousands of Indian farmers are committing suicide after using GM crops

If you have any heroes, Vandana Shiva should be included.

Very sad indeed. Quoted from the Daily Mail article above-

"Village after village, families told how they had fallen into debt after being persuaded to buy GM seeds instead of traditional cotton seeds.
The price difference is staggering: £10 for 100 grams of GM seed, compared with less than £10 for 1,000 times more traditional seeds. In return for allowing western companies access to the second most populated country in the world, with more than one billion people, India was granted International Monetary Fund loans in the Eighties and Nineties, helping to launch an economic revolution.

Far from being 'magic seeds', GM pest-proof 'breeds' of cotton have been devastated by bollworms, a voracious parasite.

Nor were the farmers told that these seeds require double the amount of water.

When crops failed in the past, farmers could still save seeds and replant them the following year.
But with GM seeds they cannot do this. That's because GM seeds contain so- called 'terminator technology', meaning that they have been genetically modified so that the resulting crops do not produce viable seeds of their own.

As a result, farmers have to buy new seeds each year at the same punitive prices. For some, that means the difference between life and death."


It seems that Monsanto and the IMF have pulled another Fast one over the developing wotld, the price being human tragedy on a huge scale.

So it goes.

A shame really.

is this story even real ? maybe a few killed themselves but thousands ? this reminds the same episode back in the early 80s with US farmers, too much debt and they started to shoot at bankers, not that there is anything wrong with that

Originally Posted by sabang

But with GM seeds they cannot do this. That's because GM seeds contain so- called 'terminator technology', meaning that they have been genetically modified so that the resulting crops do not produce viable seeds of their own.

That is a bullshit statement.
No hybrid reproduces.
Did you ever see mules produce offspring, you might see one fucking but they are sterile and never have produced and that is one of the oldest known hybrids.

Fortunately for the world's food supply, most countries refuse to conduct agriculture practices through corporate control, GMOs, strains that become dependent on chemicals, etc. America has become the lone survivor.

how are spin's monsanto shares doing ?

Originally Posted by baldrick

how are spin's monsanto shares doing ?

Outside of their hold on North America {USA & Canada}, Monsanto will always do well - they have government subsidies and favour. Actually, your reference to a public held corporation - in reality, share holders are not conscious about how evil their beloved investment is, they want to make money.

^ And if you are happy with the seed and crops you have, then you will not change.
If you do and it turns to shit, Who are you going to blame??

Your self or some poor sod for selling you seed that you asked to buy.

Some people believe blaming others for their poor decisions is perfectly legitimate.

Originally Posted by Texpat

Some people believe blaming others for their poor decisions is perfectly legitimate.

Decisions usually involve choice.

Indeed, in a bid to promote the uptake of GM seeds, traditional varieties were banned from many government seed banks.

The authorities had a vested interest in promoting this new biotechnology. Desperate to escape the grinding poverty of the post-independence years, the Indian government had agreed to allow new bio-tech giants, such as the U.S. market-leader Monsanto, to sell their new seed creations.

In return for allowing western companies access to the second most populated country in the world, with more than one billion people, India was granted International Monetary Fund loans in the Eighties and Nineties, helping to launch an economic revolution.

champion of the snake-oil salesman Tex ?

Originally Posted by Mid

champion of the snake-oil salesman Tex ?

Americana salesman

Nobody forced them to use GM seeds.
I'm sure the smart Indian scientists who endorsed this product did their homework.
I'm sure the Indian Department of Agriculture did their homework.

It's not like Jack sold his cow for some magic beans.

Originally Posted by Texpat

Nobody forced them to use GM seeds.

When the traditional ones are banned, I would say that would force them to buy the GM ones.

Originally Posted by Texpat

I'm sure the smart Indian scientists who endorsed this product did their homework. I'm sure the Indian Department of Agriculture did their homework.

I doubt they had a say in it.

Why didn't they consider a small (10%) patch to see how the new seeds would do?

I think individuals should take more responsibility for themselves and their decisions.

Originally Posted by Texpat

Why didn't they consider a small (10%) patch to see how the new seeds would do? I think individuals should take more responsibility for themselves and their decisions.

Are you even aware of how the IMF really works?

Originally Posted by Texpat

Nobody forced them to use GM seeds.
I'm sure the smart Indian scientists who endorsed this product did their homework.
I'm sure the Indian Department of Agriculture did their homework.

It's not like Jack sold his cow for some magic beans.

I'm sure that the esteemed Indian scientist and assorted govt apparatus did their homework. Finding, that it is the most detrimental and negative activity for the people. They seem to wash that aside when there is large sums of corporate money involved.....

Originally Posted by baldrick

how are spin's monsanto shares doing ?

I sold them due to pressure from tree hugging eco warrior types

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by Texpat

Why didn't they consider a small (10%) patch to see how the new seeds would do? I think individuals should take more responsibility for themselves and their decisions.

Are you even aware of how the IMF really works?

I was always under the impression that the IMF didn't function very well at all....

Originally Posted by Texpat

Nobody forced them to use GM seeds.
I'm sure the smart Indian scientists who endorsed this product did their homework.
I'm sure the Indian Department of Agriculture did their homework.

You're kidding, right?

If not, you have no idea of how things work in India.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

I was always under the impression that the IMF didn't function very well at all....

It depends on what you consider their "function" to be.

Sad story but it happens all over Asia, the article mentions locals selling fake seeds which is easy to believe. Here in Thailand they were selling fake fertilizer that crippled some of the local farmers with debt and poor harvest.