Farmer-suicide in India: debating the role of biotechnology

Gigesh Thomas,Johan De Tavernier

doi:10.1186/s40504-017-0052-z

Abstract

Indian Biotech opponents have attributed the increase of suicides to the monopolization of GM seeds, centering on patent control, application of terminator technology, marketing strategy, and increased production costs. The contentions of the biotech opponents, however, have been criticized for a lack of transparency in their modus operandi i.e. the use of methodology in their argumentation. The fact is, however, that with the intention of getting the attention of those capable of determining the future of GM cotton in India, opponents resorted to generating controversies. Therefore, this article will review and evaluate the multifaceted contentions of both opponents and defenders. Although the association between seed monopolization and farmer-suicide is debatable, we will show that there is a link between the economic factors associated with Bt. cultivation and farmer suicide. The underlying thesis of biotech opponents becomes all the more significant when analysed vis-à-vis the contention of the globalization critics that there has been a political and economic marginalization of the Indian farmers. Their accusation assumes significance in the context of a fragile democracy like India where market forces are accorded precedence over farmers’ needs until election time.

Highlights

India has witnessed around 300,000 farmer-suicides over the past two decades (Philpott, 2015; Mishra, 2014)
Before we start doing this, we describe a succinct history of GM cotton and the opposition against it, and evaluate the significance of the contentions of the biotech opponents by positioning their criticism within the larger debate on the deleterious impact of economic liberalization on Indian farmers
The SakkhariQayum study, observed that non-Bt. outperformed Bt. by yielding ₹4787/acre against ₹2032/acre, 708 kg/acre against 649 kg/acre (Qayum & Sakkhari, 2005). These facts helped Shiva and Jalees establish the idea that transgenic cotton is, a suicide/genocide/homicide-inducing technology (Shiva & Jalees, 2006, 43f): High costs of cultivation, and low returns have trapped Indian peasants in a debt trap, from which they are escaping by taking their lives

Summary

Introduction

India has witnessed around 300,000 farmer-suicides over the past two decades (Philpott, 2015; Mishra, 2014). The seed monopolisation debate Shiva asserts the driving force behind farmer-suicide swirls around Monsanto’s monopolization of the cotton seed sector by patent control, removing alternatives, the increase in production costs, and the fear for crop failure On account of these allegations, MMB’s Bt. cotton was banned in August 2012 in Maharashtra (Press Trust of India, 2012), but was later lifted in May 2013 (Deshpande, 2013). The SakkhariQayum study, observed that non-Bt. outperformed Bt. by yielding ₹4787/acre against ₹2032/acre, 708 kg/acre against 649 kg/acre (Qayum & Sakkhari, 2005) These facts helped Shiva and Jalees establish the idea that transgenic cotton is, a suicide/genocide/homicide-inducing technology (Shiva & Jalees, 2006, 43f): High costs of cultivation, and low returns have trapped Indian peasants in a debt trap, from which they are escaping by taking their lives. Adopting GM crops will result in the virtual enslavement of subsistence farmers by multinational firms (Barsanian, 2002; Shiva 1989)

Findings

Conclusions

502. Discussion