4 ms·

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bt_cotton#Controversies https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bt_cotton#Controversies Wasn't that debunked? The claim was that it con

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bt_cotton#Controversies https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bt_cotton#Controversies Wasn't that debunked? The claim was that it contributed to suicide, but the farmer suicide rates have, by numbers I've seen, declined over the relevant period, which would not be surprising since cotton productivity has skyrocketed. Now, maybe the numbers are doctored, and I'd believe that about India, but I'd want some proof other than "Google it and trust the first negative story written from WhatsApp rumours.".

sremani 7y ago
https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/as-a-genetic-revolution-collapses-vidarbhas-cotton-farmers-dread-coming-season https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/as-a-genetic... I do not consider Bloomberg to be fountain of truth! It has its biases but .. here you go!
- microcolonel 7y ago
  Isn't the problem there the application of improper, illegal pesticides? The story linked for the 45 deaths from poisoning directly states that the pesticides involved were siezed by the state. Then later in the article: > He, however, pointed out that the failure of this technology is unique to India. None of the 14 other Bt cotton-growing countries have faced the problem because they follow pest management strategies such as short-season crop, pheromone-based monitoring and so on. It seems from even your source: no deaths were the result of either variant of Bt Cotton, and India's failure to maintain the crops is directly linked to shortsighted mismanagement of crops, and possibly unique conditions in India. I'm no great fan of Monsanto, but it doesn't seem like there's a case of killer cotton here, but instead a predictable tragedy of routine human foolishness.
rapnie 7y ago
Lots of controversy on the topic, and I don't know where the truth lies. The following article offers an analysis of the Indian suicide case and makes a reasonable case a myth has been created: https://issues.org/keith/ https://issues.org/keith/

sremani 7y ago

https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/as-a-genetic-revolution-collapses-vidarbhas-cotton-farmers-dread-coming-season https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/as-a-genetic... I do not consider Bloomberg to be fountain of truth! It has its biases but .. here you go!

microcolonel 7y ago
Isn't the problem there the application of improper, illegal pesticides? The story linked for the 45 deaths from poisoning directly states that the pesticides involved were siezed by the state. Then later in the article: > He, however, pointed out that the failure of this technology is unique to India. None of the 14 other Bt cotton-growing countries have faced the problem because they follow pest management strategies such as short-season crop, pheromone-based monitoring and so on. It seems from even your source: no deaths were the result of either variant of Bt Cotton, and India's failure to maintain the crops is directly linked to shortsighted mismanagement of crops, and possibly unique conditions in India. I'm no great fan of Monsanto, but it doesn't seem like there's a case of killer cotton here, but instead a predictable tragedy of routine human foolishness.

rapnie 7y ago

Lots of controversy on the topic, and I don't know where the truth lies. The following article offers an analysis of the Indian suicide case and makes a reasonable case a myth has been created: https://issues.org/keith/ https://issues.org/keith/