The issue

The issue of genetic engineering (GE) in agriculture has assumed political, legal and practical urgency for the South as never before. On the one hand, the GE industry appears to be on a roll spreading its mispropaganda and hype never before seen. It claims that nearly 50% of all the cotton sown in the world in the next couple of years will be genetically engineered. China has become the new mascot for the GE industry. The Bt Corn is spreading its wings outside its traditional homes. There are aggressive efforts to bring in Vitamin A rice into Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand and through these countries capture the largest rice growing region of Asia.

On the other hand debates and disquiet about GE is getting more and more widespread. People like Arpad Pusztai, Mae Won Ho are joined by a large panel of Independent Scientists have been blowing the whistle sharper and louder. New instances of corporate colonialism typified by cases like Percy Schmeiser are coming to light.

The myth

While the GE industry tries to justify its existence as the only way of keeping hunger away from Third World, the mounting evidence shows that that is the last thing on its mind. The other claims of the industry that the use of GE increases yield, reduces pesticide use and increases farmers profits are proving hollower than ever in the face of building evidences world over. But the industry is non repentant and unabashed. It pursues with greater aggression than ever planting of its destructive seeds in Southern and West Africa, Eastern and southern Asia and south America. The combined efforts of the USA, Canada and Australia to browbeat the weak biosafety regimes around the world are getting progressively sinister.

The industry hype around GE has blinded the policy makers in the Third World who in any case are incapable of mustering enough political will to cut through this hype and arrive at a truth that ensures the maximum good of their agrarian populations. And they do not have the support of adequate information and research to arrive at such a truth.

It is in this environment that the April Event is being planned in Hyderabad, India.

New Truths

The April Event, being designed around Bt Cotton is an effort to bring Bt Cotton's face of truth based on independent science research and farmers authentic experiences.

The Deccan Development Society (DDS) and the Andhra Pradesh (AP) Coalition in Defence of Diversity have been conducting the first long independent scientific study in India in a sustained fashion for the last three years. The studies have been season long, looking at a fairly representative sample of farmers [about 10% of all Bt farmers on a three year average] in one cotton district of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh called Warangal.

Already two studies have been published under the titles of Did Bt Cotton Save the Farmers of Warangal? [2002-2003] and Bt Cotton Disillusions AP Again [2003-2004]. Besides these published studies in print a powerful film has been made by a group of women farmers who constitute the Community Media Trust of DDS. The film called Why are Warangal Farmers Angry with Bt Cotton has already been translated into French, German, Spanish, Thai and English and is being used by activist groups all over the world in their campaigning against GE.

New releases

The study for the year 2004-2005 is expected to be ready by the end of March, 2005. Along with this study, a book which details the experience of all the three years of the study will be published. So also will be released a film that will encompass the three year experience of the AP Bt cotton farmers.

New networks

Anchored to this event will be the inception of a new network called South Against GE, a network of farmers, scientists, environmentalists and activists who are working in South Indian states of AP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the frontier states in agricultural biotechnology.

At least 20-25 persons representing farmers, scientists, environmentalists and activists from all over India will participate in this workshop. Efforts will also be made to involve policy makers, media and politicians in the event apart from a large number of groups.

GE campaigners & activists from across the globe, especially from West, East and South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Canada have expressed their willingness to attend the meet. Important networks like GRAIN, Third World Network, African Biosafety Network, Biothai and Interpares are likely to take active part in the event.

The Deccan Development Society and the AP Coalition in Defence of Diversity would not only like to share the outcome of their research with the research and experiences of groups from India but outside as well.

The proposed programme is as follows:

14 April, 2005, Thursday - Release of Study & Film Screening
15 April 2005, Friday - Public Consultation & Formation of SAGE network
16 April 2005, Saturday - Farmers' Rally & Formation of AP Food Sovereignty Network

The Event is designed to coincide with the Global Week of Action for setting a people's agenda and to say

• No to Corporatisation of Agriculture
• No to Genetic Engineering and Patents on Life forms
• YES to everyone's right to food, livelihood and a healthy life and environment.

This programme is co-sponsored by HIVOS, FYF, IIED and Interpares.