238 The False Promise of Gene tically Engineered Foods
Farmers resist GE cotton
Basanna is a cotton farmer in Karnataka state, in India.
Several years ago, when GE crops were very new, he was
approached by men from the Monsanto Corporation, who
offered him a new variety of cotton seeds. They gave him
the seeds free of cost, along with fertilizer to help them
grow. They told him they would come every few weeks to
inspect the crop and to spray his field. To Basanna, this seemed like a very good
deal. He would have a cotton harvest at no cost, and the company would do
most of the work.
Basanna did not know this was part of Monsanto’s genetic engineering
experiment. Men from Monsanto came to spray pesticides on the field regularly,
but the crop still suffered from bollworm and other pests. Basanna wondered
what kind of cotton would need so much pesticide, and still not grow well.
Basanna soon learned that other farmers were growing the new cotton too.
He also learned that the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association did not like the
cotton, or the company promoting it. Basanna went to a meeting held by these
farmers to learn more.
Basanna learned the new cotton needed more chemicals than he had used
before, and that these chemicals would decrease the fertility of his soil. He
also learned that this cotton might not yield any more than his old cotton
did. Basanna heard that he would not be allowed to replant the cotton seeds
because the company owned the rights to them. Worst of all, he learned that
pollen from the plants could travel on the wind and affect his neighbor’s crops.
If the neighbor’s crops pollinated this new cotton, they would not be allowed to
replant their seeds the next year.
When Basanna realized the GE cotton was a threat to his farm and to
his entire community, he joined the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association.
Together, thousands of farmers came up with a plan to tell the world what they
thought of GE cotton. They planned an activity and then, the day before they
gathered, they sent a letter to newspapers throughout the country that said:
Three fields in Karnataka will be reduced to ashes on Saturday.
Activists have already contacted the owners of these fields to explain to
them what action will be taken and for what reasons, and to let them
know we will cover any losses they will suffer. Saturday at midday,
thousands of farmers will occupy and burn down the fields in front of
the cameras, in an open, announced action of civil disobedience.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012