Monsanto, the American multinational giant, has a criminal history and is characterized as a monster. By sensing a vast potential in seed business, it has taken up seed production of various crops singly or as a joint venture with Indian domestic companies, like Mahyco. The Monsanto company has given top priority to cotton in order to reap unbridled profits, as cotton is an important commercial crop covering lakhs of acres in India. Monsanto has developed a Bt cotton by making use of genetic engineering technique. The company has successfully managed to introduce and expand this Bt cotton seed in countries like USA, China and India. In India as elsewhere, it has acquired monopoly on Bt cotton technology and thereby the Bt cotton seed as well.

Monsanto has been making large-scale false propaganda and publicity about the benefits of Bt cotton, especially of its efficacy in controlling a cotton pest, that is, American boll-worm. In the absence of any clarification or suggestion about the Bt cotton by the government or scientists, farmers in India fell prey to the Company’s  campaign and false claims and resorted to the cultivation of Bt cotton on a large-scale touching upon 20 lakh acre. The Monsanto company, taking advantage of farmers’ ignorance and crave for reaping huge profits, exploited and looted the farmers by selling the seed at a huge cost. It charged Rs 1850/- per packet of 450 grams of Bt cotton seed, which would suffice for planting one acre. This is undoubtedly on the high side as compared with the price of any hybrid cotton seed, which is usually Rs. 450/- for planting one acre.

Realizing this and the exploitation of farmers by Monsanto, the government of Andhra Pradesh complained to the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) against Monsanto for not only charging high price for the seed but also for charging the domestic companies Rs 1200/- per acre (or per packet of 450 grams) as  value for its Bt technology. However, it is reported that the trait value charged in America for the same quantity of seed is Rs 108/- and in China Rs 39/-. The government of A.P. prayed the MRTPC for reduction in the same. The Commission passed its interim order on May 11, 2006 to reduce the trait value so as to give benefit of reasonable price to the farmers. This order was not obeyed by Monsanto and it moved Supreme Court against the order of MRTPC. However, the apex court declined to stay the order of the MRTPC. The Andhra Pradesh government filed a contempt petition before the MRTPC for not obeying the order directing the company not to charge Rs 900/- per pack of 450 grams of Bt cotton seed. The company fixed the value of cotton seed at Rs 880 per pack of 450 grams contrary to the direction to the company to fix a reasonable trait value on lines of China. A reduction of Rs 20 from the earlier trait value of Rs 900/- is a gross violation of the direction of the Commission. Hence, the A.P. government filed the contempt case against the company.

No one believes that AP Govt. is really fighting against the multinational companies. The government's action in moving MRTPC is said to be prompted by the domestic companies which are paying the expensive trait value to Monsanto. This move is primarily to help the favoured domestic companies. The government is not sensitive to the reduction of seed price. Instead of moving the MRTPC in this regard, the government would be well within its power to ban the seed in the state. It could have told the company that it would not allow the sale of Bt seed in the state, if it charges a high price, that is Rs 1850/-. Why the state government did not exercise its authority in this regard? The state government owes an explanation to the public. Everyone wonders whether the state government is in such a hopeless and helpless situation in dealing with a MNC!

On the other hand, the government of India accorded permission to Monsanto-Mahyco to commercialize Bt cotton in the southern states in March 2002. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of Govt. of India has bypassed all the procedures and methods to be adopted in giving permission for commercial use of the seed. There were no multi-locational trials over atleast three seasons. No field trials were organized by the statutory bodies, namely, Agricultural Universities and the state Departments of agriculture, which are all charged with the responsibility of evolving, testing and recommending of new varieties. It may be noted that illegal field trials were conducted by the Company and the information and date provided by it to the GEAC, whether it is false or bogus, appears to have been considered and the permission is wrongly accorded to the company. The GEAC has totally surrendered to the company. Reports are in wider circulation that big money has changed hands. The rulers and bureaucrats are lured more with personal benefits than with public interest and patriotism. This action of GOI is criticized and condemned everywhere by all concerned. It is an irony that one MNC has proved to be more powerful and authoritative than the so-called mighty government of India

The experiences of the last 5 or 6 years with regard to Bt cotton all over the country particularly in major cotton growing states, are really horrible. All the claims of the company have been belied and disproved by the information, data and experiences of farmers, scientists, administrators, civil society organizations. The scientific and systematic studies conducted extensively on farmers’ fields in all the cotton growing states by the individual researchers, scientists, farmers’ organizations etc. have concluded beyond doubt that Bt cotton has ruined the cotton farmers leading them to suicides in several cases. The details of losses incurred and environmental hazards are discussed below.

First of all was the claim that cost on pesticides will be drastically reduced in case of Bt cotton. This claim is false, as Bt variety did not control the Boll-worm fully and the farmers had to give two to three sprayings. Further, all other pests on cotton have increased by 200-300 times more in Bt cotton. In fact, more plant protection measures were needed to be taken. This has forced the farmer to spend more on plant protection. Further, the cost of production has increased because of the higher price of Bt cotton seed, that is, Rs 1850/- per acre as against that of Rs 450/- in the case of non–Bt hybrid varieties. The yield of Bt cotton has been extremely low with 2-3 quintals per acre, while that of non- Bt cotton varieties gave 8-10 quintals per acre. Thus the Bt farmer got less than non-Bt cotton ranging from 6-8 quintals per acre. The quality of the lint of the Bt varieties is also low. The Bt cotton lint is getting a price Rs 300-400 less than non–Bt varieties. Further Bt is highly unsuitable to drought and crop failure is quite common. The above discussion clearly establishes the fact that Bt cotton is economically nonviable and has resulted in huge losses to the farmers.

The environmental hazards of Bt are reported by the studies conducted. The Bt adversely affects the local varieties' genetic purity and biodiversity. Bt varieties would pollute the environment, specially land, water, air etc. Furthermore, Bt affects the human health. Cotton seed is used in edible oils and because of the toxins of Bt cotton seed, the oil also becomes toxic which would affect human health. Added to this, allergies due to Bt are also reported. It is reported and confirmed by the officials of the Animal husbandry department that large number of sheep died due to eating of Bt cotton leaves, twigs etc.

Failure of Bt cotton has prompted the Agriculture Minister of AP to state that “overall information is that the farmers have not experienced positive and encouraging result with Bt cotton. The farmers are not getting the yields they were promised and the poor quality crop fetches a lower price in the market”. Dr. C. D. Mayee, Director, Central Institute of Cotton, Nagpur, sated that there was no truth in the propaganda that Bt cotton was a non- spray. Dr. C. P. Thakur, former Health Minister, Union of India declared that “Bt cotton products have long term environmental and health effects." It is essential that the Health Ministry was involved more in such decisions.

The Monsanto company shows scientific brinkmanship, which should be fought against. Taking pros and cons of Bt cotton and also the need for testing the same from economic, social, health, environmental and other angles, the Govt. should cancel forth with the permission accorded to Monsanto- Mahyco company to commercialize the use of Bt cotton.

Further, Monsanto has been conducting illegal field trials in vegetables, especially brinjal, in Guntur district of A.P. The Genetically Modified crops are banned in Europe and several other countries on health grounds. Until and unless the genetically modified food crops are thoroughly tested for human health and safety, such trials should not be allowed.

Further, G.M crops or no G. M. crops, Monsanto seeds are spreading disaster. Monsanto hybrid maize seeds have failed in more than 3,50,000 acres in about 11 districts of north Bihar, leaving thousands of farmers in deep distress.

It is believed that the entire seed production and trade in important crops will go into the monopoly of Monsanto. The straight varieties and hybrids of cotton are not available in the market and this is the reason for the farmers to go in for Bt cotton for lack of  alternative seeds. This increases the dependency of our farmers on Monsanto.

Bt or no Bt, Monsanto should not be allowed to monopolize the seed sector and it should be driven away from India in the interest of our own agriculture and farmers. The technology, trade and laws which are being used by Monsanto should be done away with forthwith. It is necessary to defeat the gameplan of imperialist forces to gain absolute control over our agriculture through Monsanto and such other MNCs. Therefore, driving away Monsanto becomes imminent and urgent. This can be achieve only through people’s movements and struggles. A.P. All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha waged consistent struggle against Bt cotton and Monsanto. This struggle should continue with much more vigour and commitment to save Indian agriculture and farmers.