Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh: a three-year assessment - IndiaGMInfo
Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh: a three-year assessment - IndiaGMInfo
Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh: a three-year assessment - IndiaGMInfo
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29<br />
Somakka<br />
Somakka <strong>in</strong> her forties, lives <strong>in</strong> Wanaparthy village <strong>in</strong> Sangam Mandal of Warangal District. Like most<br />
farmers of her district, Somakka has been grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>cotton</strong> for <strong>year</strong>s. She has hardly lost from her<br />
<strong>cotton</strong> cultivation. Until she planted Mahyco-Monsanto’s <strong>Bt</strong> <strong>cotton</strong> <strong>in</strong> 2003.<br />
“They Bollgard people advertised that they are sell<strong>in</strong>g seeds <strong>in</strong> Jangaon. I went to buy some<br />
seeds there. When I went there, about ten people had bought these seeds. They were tell<strong>in</strong>g<br />
about no need for spray<strong>in</strong>g. So I thought, we can also save on spray<strong>in</strong>g and bought this seed.<br />
“Yields very well. Upto 10-15 qu<strong>in</strong>tals” they<br />
were say<strong>in</strong>g. I also bought one packet for<br />
Rs.1550 and planted <strong>in</strong> one acre.<br />
“I am not feel<strong>in</strong>g good about it now. The bolls<br />
look good. But are dropp<strong>in</strong>g from the stem itself.<br />
Look at this flower. It falls off from here. Bolls<br />
also drop from here.”<br />
“How many times did you spray?”<br />
“Thrice. Both for <strong>Bt</strong> and Non <strong>Bt</strong>. Both have<br />
aphids.<br />
“They said it will yield 15 qu<strong>in</strong>tals [per acre].<br />
Until we saw this shedd<strong>in</strong>g, we thought at least<br />
we will get 7-8 qu<strong>in</strong>tals. Look at this square. It<br />
Somakka<br />
drops off from the stem itself. Bolls are not open<strong>in</strong>g. This is also dropp<strong>in</strong>g. Day before lots of<br />
them dropped.<br />
“They counted the flowers as if they will mature <strong>in</strong>to bolls. There were lots of them when they<br />
came. Now see, all of them have dropped.<br />
“They said there will be no pests on this, except for aphids. See, how the pests have bored <strong>in</strong>to<br />
this. There are lots of these pests. But aphids are plenty.<br />
“We also gave it two irrigations. And then it ra<strong>in</strong>ed. The bolls started dropp<strong>in</strong>g. Then we suspected<br />
[someth<strong>in</strong>g was happen<strong>in</strong>g]. But we cant understand why the bolls are shedd<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
“What benefit is this for a farmer? There are pests, aphids and bolls, all together. And the bolls<br />
are shedd<strong>in</strong>g. How can we stop them?”<br />
After two months when we met her aga<strong>in</strong>:<br />
“<strong>Bt</strong> <strong>cotton</strong> is no good. All are guddi patti [damaged bolls]. Noth<strong>in</strong>g will come out of this. Even<br />
seeds cannot be retrieved.<br />
“Will we plant it aga<strong>in</strong>? How much have we profited this <strong>year</strong> that we plant this aga<strong>in</strong>?<br />
“Rs.1600 for seeds hop<strong>in</strong>g for good yields. We <strong>in</strong>vested everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to this. Did we do anyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
less for it? When it started dry<strong>in</strong>g, we even gave it irrigation. Applied urea. Whatever we applied,<br />
it absorbed everyth<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
...cont<strong>in</strong>ued to page 30
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