Tech | September 08, 2010 | 15 comments

GM maize farmers face ruin in South Africa

source: http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2504

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JanforGore
Monsanto and its supporters are forever promoting the idea that GM crop adoption is the way to greater farm productivity and profitability, but the experience of farmers growing GM maize in South Africa point to a far more complex and disturbing reality.

Just a year ago all the talk was of South African farmers suffering millions of dollars in lost income after some 82,000 hectares of genetically-manipulated maize failed to produce seeds.

And Monsanto was left rushing to compensate the farmers in an effort to hush up the disaster.

http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2504

A year on and nearly a third of South Africa's maize farmers are again threatened with financial ruin - this time because of a glut in maize production. The knock on effects of the current crisis on rural South African communities could be catastrophic, reports the African Centre for Biosafety in a new report.

Download the report here:

http://www.biosafetyafrica.net/index.html/images/stories/dmdocuments/SA_GM_farme...
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The dirty politics of the global grain trade - GM maize farmers face ruin in SA
Biosafety in South Africa - Briefing Papers

http://www.biosafetyafrica.net/index.html/index.php/20100908332/The-dirty-politi...

Recently, the South African press reported on the possible bankruptcy faced by maize farmers. The African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) has today released a new report titled "The dirty politics of the global grain trade - GM maize farmers face ruin in SA," which provides an analysis of why South Africa's record 13 million ton harvest of maize, at least half of which is GM, has threatened financial ruin for up to 30% of its maize farmers. The paper addresses the following issues: the political economy of maize in South Africa; new GM markets for South Africa; the real beneficiaries of the maize mountains; and regulatory issues, including the extent to which South Africa's GMO permit system contributes towards speculation in the GM maize trade and the price of food. The paper can be found on the website of the ACB at www.biosafetyafrica.org.za

South Africa's maize farmers recorded a bumper harvest in 2010, yet now they face ruin. The price of maize has fallen precipitously in the last 12 months owing to a crisis of over-production of both GM and non-GM maize. A mass exodus from the maize sector is anticipated, with as many as 30% of farmers facing potential liquidation.

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  2. tags:
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15 comments // GM maize farmers face ruin in South Africa

  • riverratt50
  • noxidereus
  • noxidereus
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
    • +6
      JanforGore  

    • There is such total ignorance on this topic on the part of so much of the world still. No wonder Monsanto and their accomplices are getting away with their schemes. The fact that this was unnecessary to begin with and that farmers will now be ruined because of it and more than likely with the transgenic contamination ruining their conventional crops is of no concern to those who simply do not and will not understand the implications of this. This only shows that this is not about feeding people, but only profit at the expense of everyone else. It may be basic economics to you zinneilo ( and bad economics at that as this will only lead to a decline in price and people getting out of the markets) and others who don't care about people starving, but it isn't basic humanity. And ethanol is a water waster in production. Africa cannot afford to be using its land to make a water wasting Co2 intensive biofuel from food, especially out of a crop that kills the soil and the land's biodiversity and with the spectre of drought hanging over them.

      And based on your prior comments zimneilo, I question your motives here.

      Also to add:

      'Just a year ago all the talk was of South African farmers suffering millions of dollars in lost income after some 82,000 hectares of genetically-manipulated maize failed to produce seeds.'

      'Failed to produce seeds.' Farmers cannot live with such unstable, inconsistant, irresponsible technology, especially when they need to shell out more money for more seeds, pesticides and herbicides. The bumper crop they had of traditional corn was sufficient to feed them and keep the market going. Dumping this c^^p on it isn't helping anyone. This isn't just about one good yield. This is about looking at the big picture and the future of a continent that cannot afford to continue to be manipulated by corporations taking and toxifying their land, and denying them the right to save seeds.

    • 1 year ago
  • zimneilo
    • -3
      zimneilo  

    • It sounds like GM is helping. This is basic economics, this is a good problem to have, it just has to be managed like any other advance in production efficiency. Like ReverandG says, go for ethanol.

    • 1 year ago
  • ReverandG
  • floydyboy
  • H2O_4U
  • trut
    • +1
      trut  

    • That'll teach them a good lesson though. Don't believe a word coming out of whitey's lips. They should have learned that one by now.

    • 1 year ago
  • ReverandG
  • trut
  • noxidereus
  • trut
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