18 Sep 2012
Whatever the arguments around
the health risks of consuming genetically-modified (GM) food, the conditions
under which many GM crop farmers have to toil means this is an issue for anyone
who cares about the impact of their purchasing choices. An estimated
270,000 small-hold farmers in the Philippines are being forced to grow GM corn
and ending up in debt as a result.
These are the findings of a recent study by CI member
IBON and
MASIPAG, a farmer-led network of people's
organisations, non-government organisations and scientists.
The farmers are at the mercy
of seed suppliers and lenders who are one-in-the-same in the country.
This despite claims from the
country's Department of Agriculture promoting the production of GM corn,
claiming that the cost of production is cheaper, therefore, switching will
improve farmers' incomes.
However, given that the
suppliers and the financiers are the same, the farmers have little choice but
to switch if they need help with financing.
The study also indicates that
the news being spread by the Philippines' Department of Agriculture that
farmers now prefer planting GM
Bt-corn is
not correct.
More seeds, more cost
As a result of the increased
planting of GM corn, the cost of the corn seeds has risen 282% from its
introductory price, now accounting for 18-21% of a farmer's total cost of
production.
The cost of fertilizer is also
on the rise, and now accounts for around 23% of the total cost of producing GM
corn. Interest payments now account for 26% of the total. Even Roundup,
the herbicide which had been packaged with the GM corn seeds, is now sold
separately.
Bad for the environment, bad
for health
The IBON study notes that
producing GM corn has an adverse impact on the environment and on people's
health. For instance, farmers said that although they would have a good harvest
initially, the crop needs increasing volumes of fertilizers and agro-chemicals
because of increased pestilence.
Also, the herbicide-tolerant
Bt-corn requires increasing use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in
Roundup, the herbicide made by Monsanto, the agrochemical corporation that
introduced Bt-corn and later, Roundup-ready GM corn in the country.
With regard to health, the
study finds that farmers have experienced stomach pains, diarrhoea, chest
pains, itching and skin allergies after prolonged exposure to Bt-corn. Farmers
and their families have also experienced numbness of lips and tongue after
eating young GM corn.
No monitoring
Despite being standard
protocol, the research has found that the Bureau of Plant Industry, the
country's GM crops monitoring agency, has not conducted any post monitoring on
the impact of GM corn.
IBON calls on the government
to follow all protocols before any additional GM crops are released in the
Philippines, including conducting a thorough assessment of the effects of GM
corn. IBON also asks that they look into the real impact on farmers, including
their livelihood, incomes and overall welfare.
The field research includes GM
corn areas in Pangasinan, Isabela, Capiz, Iloilo, Bukidnon, South Cotabato and
Sultan Kudarat.
http://www.seacouncil.org/seacon/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=455:philippines-gm-corn-bankrupts-farmers&catid=55:farmers-rights&Itemid=85
