Monsanto: Our Savior?

Stop Monsanto in Nepal screams a Facebook page. But why? Why should I stop something that promises higher yield for farmers, and food security in country where millions go hungry every day.

Well, this uproar is about USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture's decision to promote Monsanto hybrid maize seeds in key maize producing districts of Chitwan, Nawal Parasi, and Kavre. This controversial pilot project targets 20,000 farmers and includes training on hybrid maize production practices. The purpose of this initiate according to the USAID- Nepal website is to “improve the business environment, work with the Government of Nepal (GON) to strengthen fiscal and trade policies, encourage competitiveness and exports, enhance food security and increase access to financial services.”

Sounds good right! So why the noise? Apparently, all is not as bright and cozy about Monsanto and its hybrid seeds. Critics of this initiative have two major problems: first, the problem with hybrid seeds; second, the problem with Monsanto.

To start off- let be fair - there is a widespread confusion about what hybrid seeds really are. Most people seem to confuse them with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s). They are not the same thing. Hybrid seeds are the offspring of a cross of two different varieties or species, GMO’s are plants whose genes have been altered in the lab to insert foreign genetic material. It’s important to know that not all hybrids are GMO’s. A hybrid is a GMO only if one or both of the parent plants had been genetically modified. Most hybrids do not have artificially manipulated DNA and are therefore not GMOs.

Pro-hybrid seed folks argue that hybrid seeds are attractive because of their “hybrid vigor” which ensures higher yield, more uniform looking product, longer shelf life and relatively cheap price in the short term. Hybrid critics on the other hand argue that while the product looks better it taste like salted cardboard, requires more fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and water to achieve their high yields than “traditional” or heirloom seeds, and are more expensive in the long term especially taking into account soil and water degradation.

Another big disadvantage of the hybrid seed is that farmers cannot save the seed. Saved seeds are either sterile or produce plants that are different from the original. This means that the farmer will have to buy a new batch of hybrid seeds every year.

For example, an average farmer from Kavre, let’s call him Ram dai, decides to buy the Monsanto hybrid maize seeds that USAID promises will give him higher yields and plants them. And like a good Nepali farmer, Ram dai does what the “foreigners and educated city folks” tells him and uses the prescribed fertilizers and pesticides the seeds need to fulfill their potential. Lo and behold! The seeds produce higher yields than usual. Ram dai is smiling from ear to ear! Everyone is happy until Ram dai realizes that the seeds from the hybrid crop cannot be saved for another year, and he has to buy the seeds again the next year and again the year following that. He's also angry about his soil is slowly turning into dust. Further, excuse his impertinence if he’s not too thrilled about the fact that the seeds also need a special kind of fertilizers, and pesticide for the wonder seed top work.He’s pissed to find out that the ones producing the wonder seed and the wonder fertilizers to sustain those seeds is the same company. Yes, you guessed it- The big M.

Which brings us to the second major problem: Monsanto- voted the world’s most evil corporation. Ask most environmentalists and they will probably say Monsanto makes Hitler look like a pink unicorn. So evil is Monsanto that when it offered to help a desperate Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, the smart Haitian farmer decided to the burn the seeds. Monsanto is accused of almost single handedly strangling small farmers, producing GMO’s that have harmful side effects, producing the infamous Agent Orange, and many other horrors that can be read about on any environmental blog online.

Also, surprising is the confusion USAID is under. USAID has somehow decided that the words " food security" and "promoting specific Corporate interests in the third world countries" mean the same thing. And while English is not my native language I am certain they are wrong. While USAID is "From the American People"I am sure the American people aren't too thrilled about improving Monsanto's bottom line.

So here we are: Is Nepal hungry from maize? Yes, we are. Will hybrid seeds increase our production? It will (at least in the short term). Is Monsanto’s hybrid seeds our best option? History and smarter people than me seem to think not.

So what are you going to do about it? My advise is to join the protest! Mail the US Ambassador and tell him he's wrong. Get in touch with the Ministry of Agriculture and tell them they are wrong. Spread the word!!

-----

P.S- Remember to spread the word in way that people understand and in a way that is respectful enough to be taken seriously.