OROQUIETA CITY -- Agrarian reform leaders in Northern Mindanao continued to protest the commercial use of genetically-modified crops and demanded a stop to the propagation of one of the crops, Bt-corn.

John Pelare, member of the Regional Agrarian Reform Council, said his group renewed its opposition to Bt-corn because of recent developments that cast doubts on its safety.
He said concerns over the safety of the crop should be addressed and the government should exercise caution in the propagation of Bt-corn.

"Scientists the world over have not yet agreed among themselves on the safety question," he said.

He said the logical thing to do was recall the agriculture department's Administrative Order No. 8 which allows the commercialization of the crop.

During its recent regular meeting, the council passed a resolution urging Malacanang to review the government's policy on Bt-corn and genetically-modified crops in general.

The council's stand on the issue hews closely to the position taken by the non-government group Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag).

A Masipag position paper said questions on Bt-corn linger, citing incidents of crop failures on Bt-corn fields; one in Camarines Sur due to corn silk beetle attack, and another in South Cotabato caused by stalk rot.

It said the failures put in doubt Bt-corn's supposed built-in protection against corn borers and proponents' claim that genetic engineering could do away with the need for pesticides or fertilizers.

The group added that Bt-corn does not guarantee increased income for farmers.

On the other hand, the group said, Bt-corn is a costly alternative, costing 2,200 pesos more, or almost double, compared to hybrid variety.

It noted that a 20-kilogram seed requirement for a hectare costs 2,300 pesos if hybrid corn seeds were used and 4,500 pesos if a farmer used the Dekalb 818 Yieldgard Bt-corn of Monsanto Corp.

This is making corn farming an even costlier enterprise, Pelare lamented.

Also, Masipag pointed to a scientific study done in South Cotabato that raised the possible relation of Bt-corn farming to a disease suffered by some residents in Polomolok town.

In December 2002, agribusiness giant Monsanto was given a go signal to commercialize the Bt-corn crop through the brand Dekalb 818 Yieldgard.