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Rahul Wadke

Recently in Vidarbha

AS the mercury rises in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, so does the anger of the cotton farmers of the region.

The farmers here are desperate as they are increasingly weighed down by problems, which are not of their own making. Non-payment of their dues by the Government, load shedding and water scarcity have placed them under siege.

Cotton is not only the major cash crop of Vidarbha, it is also the chief economic engine of the region.

"I have 14 acres of farmland and have planted cotton, but I cannot maintain my family on this crop. I have to depend on my dairy business to survive," laments Shyam Tambole, a cotton farmer from the Yavatmal district.

The Maharashtra Government, through its Cotton Monopoly Procurement Scheme (CMPS) 2004-05, had bought 2.11 crore quintals of cotton at Rs 3,664 crore. However, the disbursal of money to the farmers is very much behind schedule.

Out of desperation, farmers are selling their crop in the open market at much lower prices, but they at least get their money on time here.

"I sold my crop in January under CMPS but I am still waiting for my money. Marriages are being cancelled or postponed as the farmers have no money," says Tambole. This could affect the future marriage prospects of the brides, he says.

Gaurishankar Bhagwat, a small farmer from Amravati has a similar tale to share.

" Nothing can improve our condition. We need only a small vial of poison to end this misery. The planting season will start in 15 days and still we have not been paid for our last crop by the Government," Bhagwat said.

"The process of procurement under CMPS is itself not smooth. We have to bribe cotton graders at the cotton procurement centres to get our produce correctly graded," Bhagwat said.

In this volatile situation, Monsanto, the multinational seed company, has launched a new variety of genetically modified (GM) cottonseed - Bollgard - in the region. It claims to be resistant to bollworms, a known crop pest. The product also promises to increase yield dramatically.

However, not many farmers are enthusiastic about this new product. They are more worried about their outstanding money from the Government.

Monsanto has appointed Bollywood actor Nana Patekar as its brand ambassador for promoting Bollgard. He has held farmers rallies for promoting Bollgard in the region.

Patekar said, "From the product literature, I am convinced that Monsanto seeds will give a higher yield to farmers. There are many misconceptions about the seeds. But if the benefits are more, then we should use these seeds."

However, in spite of all the canvassing, the farmers seem more interested in the film star than the product itself.

There is also a strong lobby of farmers opposing GM seeds in Vidarbha. These farmers are afraid that GM seeds will wreck the environment.

Farmer and technocrat Ram Kalaspurkar of Yavatmal, who is leading the lobby against GM seeds, said seed companies such as Monsanto could control seed multiplication and obtain patent rights on seeds, which in turn could give them control over farmers.

"The cotton seeds sold by Monsanto will give a crop in first generation. The seeds from this crop, which are genetically modified, cannot be used for the next crop. They will not germinate if sown. Even if germinated, the plants would be 100-per cent sterile," Kalaspurkar said.

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