Since the seeds were first sown in their lands four years ago, farmers of Katpur village in Amravati district have been patiently waiting each season for wonders to happen. Nothing of the sort has happened yet.

With huge debts taking the lives of many farmers in the district, and even cattle purportedly dying after feeding on the plants, the 5,000-odd farmers of this Maharashtra village have decided to shun the Bt cotton — once introduced to them by seed companies as “miracle” seeds. Most of them are now growing soyabean. Some have also taken to organic farming.

“We were cheated by the seed companies. We did not get the yield promised by them, not even half of it. And the expenditure involved was so high that we incurred huge debts. We have heard that the government is now planning commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal. But we do not want Bt seeds of any crop anymore,” says Sahebrao Yawliker, a farmer.

With reddened leaves and shrivelled flowers of Bt cotton, the four-acre cultivation of farmer Anil Kale, adjacent to a greener brinjal fields, looks dull. “The red leaves are due to a disease called ‘lalya’, a rare one earlier. The stems are attacked by white flies. Even though the yield was less, it was stable. Now, to get rid of these flies, we have to spray pesticides four to five times more than that of normal cotton,” says Kale.

Ironically, those who push for GM crops underline that a major advantage of Bt crops is that they require minimal pesticides. Director of Research, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Dr Subhash Mehetre says that since the yield potential of Bt cotton is high, it requires more fertilizers. “Yes, Bt cotton requires more fertilizers, but then it also gives more yield. The expenditure involved, therefore, would be high,” he says.

... contd.