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| Philippines |
| FARMER GROUPS DENOUNCE UPROOTING OF Bt CORN |
| 04-Sep-2001 SEARCA Biotech Info Center |
|
Several Mindanao-based farmer organizations condemn the illegal
uprooting of the Bt corn plants in Barangay Maltana, Tampakan, South
Cotabato. The said uprooting
which took place last August 29 was apparently lead by the non-government
organization Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) by about 300 people
comprising of churchmen, students, farmers and members of the civil
society. The local government
that has already made a resolution allowing the field trial of Bt corn also
denounced the said act. The
statement came from the South Cotabato Provincial Agricultural &
Fisheries Council, the Koronadal City Agricultural & Fisheries
Council, the Federation of Irrigators Association of SOCSARGEN, the
General Santos City Agricultural & Fisheries Council, the Gen. Santos
Sarangani Fruit Cooperative, and the Mindanao Mango Industry Development
Foundation. In
the statement, the farmers supported the trial because they wanted to find
out whether Bt corn will effectively control the Asiatic corn borer, a
dreaded insect corn pest. They
expressed their hope in the GM technology for corn in providing additional
options to counter corn borer infestation and lessen use of costly and
toxic chemical inputs. The Bt corn hybrid incorporates a gene from a naturally-occurring soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to combat the corn borer larvae from feeding on stalks and ears of corn plants. In the Philippines, corn borer infestation accounts for 30-40% yield loss. In a survey conducted in the fourth quarter of 1999 in South Cotabato, yield loss was valued at P118 M or 30% of harvest. The
farmers stressed that, "We are in a free country. Let us give the
farmers freedom of choice. Let us give the consumers freedom of choice.
Let these NGOs also sell their produce if they have any to offer to the
open market, and not confuse and twist the minds of people with unfounded
claims and scare tactics. They seem to employ the communist tactics of
brainwashing. For their act of destruction, without any legal basis, and
contrary to the norm of conduct of a civilized society, they have now
unmasked themselves as the real terrorist and anarchist." According to a Monsanto representative, the said corn plants were due for harvesting in November. The statement of farmer groups can be viewed at http://www.bic.searca.org/news/ctry/phil/Aug/farmers.pdf In a related development, there was an attempt by a militant group to uproot corn plants in a Bt corn trial site in Kibawe, Bukidnon but failed, according to sources. They have now set camp near the the site. Other Bt corn test sites might also be threatened by this group.
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