Bt Cotton and Farmer Suicides in India: An Evidence-based Assessment
GUILLAUME GRUE`RE & DEBDATTA SENGUPTA
ABSTRACT Bt cotton is accused of being responsible for an increase of farmer suicides in India. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of evidence on Bt cotton and farmer suicides. Available data show no evidence of a ‘resurgence’ of farmer suicides. Moreover, Bt cotton technology has been very effective overall in India. Nevertheless, in specific districts and years, Bt cotton may have indirectly contributed to farmer indebtedness, leading to suicides, but its failure was mainly the result of the context or environment in which it was planted.
Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute,
Washington, USA, Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 47, No. 2, 316–337, February 2011
In contrast there is the Deepak Chopra - belief-based version of the issue featuring Vandana Shiva:
In this imaginary world, introduction of Bt (GM) cotton caused an increase in suicides, and Monsanto is the villian.
Has anyone seen that book, "how to lie with statistics"? Oh you have some fancy graphs and what not, and surely others can produce some that say the opposite too. Somewhere along the line common sense dropped out. Who would defend a corporation attacking generational seed farmers not only India but in the U.S. and every major continent except Antarctica.
ReplyDeleteMammoth Law suits against farm families after contaminating their generation seed with Pinkerton Security helicopters knocking at the door. Where is the Tribe in you. Why waste our breath talking to CIA props like you. Checking on who you piss off, making a black list?
Oh and Dr.Science, just exactly how did Monsanto think of BacillusThuringensis? The organic farm movement became the leader in that use, and like pirating gene and seed from generational farmers, they stole and patented the idea.
Wheat, Corn, Canola, soybeans, all from traditional cultures with farmers now attacked by Monsanto/Dupont World Bank financed like Yangtze River million displaced now in refugee camps. So Mr.Tribe, maybe you should find one!
And yes, India is a mess before BT cotton thanks to more corepirate envelopement, Glob-alism. Milton Friedman left his mark for generations, literally.
But it's an old game, greed has always been a force to reckon with. Just now its on glob-al scale. The next time you look down upon those ignorant peasants, remember everything you eat and have comes from their seed and textile trial and error over milenia. But that requires common sense that is now uncommon. Are'nt you just like a Scottish Noble in Braveheart, keeping the people down unless they conform to the disgusting status quo that is riddled with lies.
And as far as these transgenetic wonder crops, they seem to only perform under ideal conditions. Hmmm, now I think that is why heirloom seed is so precious, it contains all the genes that have survived all manner of hardship under less than ideal condition. Now that IS precious. I guess that's why Monsanto pirates it. You can use all the science you want, as long as you aim it to find truth rather than just to say what fits your billing. Are you getting some finance from Monsanto or are you just a dark force by nature, perhaps both!
Oh and PS, I too agree people make all kinds of unscience based conclusions and I award making arguments based upon observation and experience. Maybe you can take a closer look at what you are saying, because observation and experience are not backing up your claim either. I hope you grow a fish out your nose.