tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post8043555373980578370..comments2024-03-28T16:09:44.638+05:30Comments on Ground Reality: Bt cotton game in PakistanDevinder Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867902048509662981noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post-33139103542935789842011-08-13T09:45:41.534+05:302011-08-13T09:45:41.534+05:30Introduction of Bt cotton in Pakistan has been adv...Introduction of Bt cotton in Pakistan has been advocated mainly by pro-Monsanto scientists like Dr. Yusuf Zafar and Dr. Kauser Malik. Back in late 90s they wanted Monsanto's terminator technology introduced in Pakistan. And subsequently worked to promote their material in Pakistan, the so-called CLCV resistant Bt cotton. Later they changed their approach and started working on resistance against worms rather than white fly and were able to release some IR varieties. But certainly they paved the way for Monsanto in Pakistan. It is right that they helped Monsanto monopolize agriculture production in Pakistan. Now, it is the turn of genetically rice and wheat, that may be the most severe threat to food security in Pakistan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post-25375523445397408802011-07-19T20:25:18.314+05:302011-07-19T20:25:18.314+05:30Mr Farishta, I happened to revisit this blog just ...Mr Farishta, I happened to revisit this blog just now and saw your response to my comment. You see the dilemma in Pakistan is the the the hapless populace is to caught, or rather has been subjugated to energy, terrorism and socioeconomic woes that it is more or less detached from the close-door deals of the govt and multinational entities. Yes there have been voices that have been raised in certain posts such as those part of Defence.pk. Other than that, the mainstream media is silent on this issue, and in fact extol the virtues of Bt cotton as being a panacea for Pakistan's ailing cotton industry rather than a stranglehold.<br /><br />Off late, I have come across a locally developed cotton that is capable of resisting cotton pests on a better footing than Bt II cotton. It has been created by scientists working in a public agri-research institute who intent to disseminate it freely amongst cotton farmers. They actually filed a patent for this in 2007 but before it can be released, the government has already gone ahead and signed a letter of intent with Monsanto in 2008 whereby consenting to the company propagating its various products at hefty royalty fees to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. I have documented the development of the locally developed cotton as a case-study and further intend to promote its awareness to the people through my newspaper articles.Azizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05248409356049754008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post-11870247199230556812010-06-19T08:40:21.704+05:302010-06-19T08:40:21.704+05:30Mr. Aziz,
Is there an action group against the in...Mr. Aziz,<br /><br />Is there an action group against the introduction of these seeds? Is something being done by the civil society? <br /><br />I am shocked to learn about this and even more shocked to find that there has not been much uproar in the media or internet blogs. <br /><br />What can we do about this?Gunja Farishtahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05072367516261869319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778570096826367144.post-14727055727130259262010-03-22T15:46:29.422+05:302010-03-22T15:46:29.422+05:30Thank you Devinder for highlighting this grave iss...Thank you Devinder for highlighting this grave issue in your blog entry, It is horrifying that the mainstream media in Pakistan has completely evaded this topic. Monsanto is out on a crusade of trying to acquire the license to own food and hence control whole populations that are going to become eventually dependent on their GM seed varieties, not to talk of the spill-off effects of their poison herbicide RoundUp. No wonder they are the creators of agent orange too. The concerned officials in the Pakistan's MINFAL are just mites or worker bees trying to serve the larger goal of their whoever their queen bee is.Azizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05248409356049754008noreply@blogger.com