We have reported in the past an alarming suicide rate among farmers in India that is connected to the failure of American GMO (genetically modified organism) cotton seeds.
Monsanto, the U.S. company responsible for Agent Orange, a cancer-causing chemical sprayed on the jungles of Vietnam, is now in the GMO food and seed business.
Monsanto stands accused of having an international monopoly of the notorious bio-engineered Bt cotton seeds.
Advocates for the agricultural industry say they never dreamed of the tragedy to come, when a 2005 decision was announced to allow the seeds in India.
Now an agrarian crisis has hit Maharashtra itself thanks to the Monsanto program.
Farmers are buying 11 packets of 450 gm per hectare as per the company’s guide for the recommended “population method” but the sudden demand and ill-managed Indian sub agents have brought the company big trouble as 50% of the Bt cotton seeds failed to germinate even after it’s second sowing.
NOTE: Now, this is surely a better option than the thousands of Indian Farmer suicides?
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