A film about plight of GM corn farmers

On World “Foodless” Day, a farmer-scientist group released a film about the plight of GM corn farmers.

“We loan the seeds, and pay upon harvest. We are usually left with empty sacks. So we loan for food and family expenses, and inputs to be able to plant for the next season. Upon harvest, we have leftover debt.”

This was but one of the numerous testaments of farmers that farmer-scientist group MASIPAG has documented on film about the impact of GM corn in the lives and livelihood of corn farmers.

The film entitled “10 Years of Failure, Farmers Deceived by GM corn” shows the dire situation of corn farmers in the Philippines who have adopted GM corn. Amidst protests from farmers, scientists, consumers and basic sectors, GM corn was commercialized in the Philippines in 2003.

At present, there are about eight varieties of single, stacked-trait and pyramided GM corn approved by the government for direct planting. It is now planted in about 685,317 hectares of agricultural land allotted for corn.

The film documentary is based on the study done by MASIPAG on the socio-economic impacts of GM corn on farmers’ lives and livelihood after more than 10 years of commercialization.

In the film, GM corn farmers relate how they became indebted because of the rising cost of GM corn seeds and increasing cost and quantity of inputs being used. The film also shared the farmers account on the effect of GM corn farming such as emergence of new pests, soil erosion, corn contamination and human and animal health impacts.

Farmers also shared the difficulty to go back to traditional or organic corn farming because of the loss of traditional seeds and practices replaced by GM corn farming and the effects of neighboring GM corn plantations. The film documentary covers the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The film was set to be released online on the observance of World Food Day. Executives of agrochemical transnational companies Monsanto and Syngenta were awarded by the World Food Prize Foundation on October 17.

Awardees include Monsanto executive vice president and chief technology officer Robert Fraley. Fraley was responsible for the development of Monsanto’s genetically modified crops.

MASIPAG national coordinator DrChito Medina says that GM crops such as GM corn only enforces corporate control of agriculture. “It is quite tragic that on World Food Day, huge agrochemical companies who wrested away farmers’ rights on seeds, caused environmental degradation and pollution of our valuable genetic resources are put in high regard, while small and resource-poor farmers who nurtured the seeds and who feed the population are left landless and hungry.”

Medina also stressed that it is high time that the government heed the calls of the farmers and take policy recommendations seriously so as to attain food security thru sustainable and biodiversity-based agriculture. MASIPAG advocates for farmer-led sustainable and organic agriculture.

Recently, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development published a report on the importance of sustainable agriculture to ensure food security in a changing climate.

In 2008, the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) said that the present chemical and capital intensive agriculture and the marginalization of small farmers are no longer tenable, and called on governments to redirect efforts to attaining sustainable practices in agriculture.

One may link to the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuWs8K9-kI

MASIPAG is a farmer-led network of people's organizations, non-government organizations and  scientists working towards the sustainable use and management of biodiversity through farmers' control  of genetic and biological resources, agricultural production and associated knowledge.

Established in the mid-1980s as an initiative to reclaim traditional rice seed varieties, MASIPAG has grown to developing sustainable, organic systems for livestock conservation, products processing and local marketing.

As of 2013, MASIPAG has 563 member peoples’ organizations, 38 NGO partners, 20 church-based groups, and 15 scientist-partners.

For inquiries contact: Dr. Chito Medina, national coordinator at 09175442196 or AlfiePulumbarit,  advocacy officer at 049) 536 5549 or  email:info@masipag.org Website: www.masipag.org.