Comments on: The Dying Fields http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Mon, 21 May 2012 23:14:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Matthew Perez http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17944 Matthew Perez Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:59:28 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17944 Harroch is correct in stating that Monsanto’s issues in corporate ethics are not solely an issue of India. In an ethics class I took as an undergraduate, I learned that of a situation they were involved in within Canada. There bioengineered crops were essentially dispersing beyond the confines of their facilities and onto nearby farms. Unlike in India, though, the local farmer actually liked the new crop better. It was resistant to Round-Up, a weed killing agent that can also kill the crop it is trying to protect. Although I do not remember how Monsanto found out about what the farmer was doing, the company ended up suing him for using their plant. Even though it was Monsanto’s fault for the crop spreading, the farmer was still required to pay for the right to grow crops that had spread to his land. The spread of their crop is probably why they purchased the Terminator seed technology (sterile seeds). Based on what I have seen, I can understand the company’s desire to hold onto proprietary technology but the company should also try to maintain some semblance of compassion for their customers. Harroch is correct in stating that Monsanto’s issues in corporate ethics are not solely an issue of India. In an ethics class I took as an undergraduate, I learned that of a situation they were involved in within Canada. There bioengineered crops were essentially dispersing beyond the confines of their facilities and onto nearby farms. Unlike in India, though, the local farmer actually liked the new crop better. It was resistant to Round-Up, a weed killing agent that can also kill the crop it is trying to protect. Although I do not remember how Monsanto found out about what the farmer was doing, the company ended up suing him for using their plant. Even though it was Monsanto’s fault for the crop spreading, the farmer was still required to pay for the right to grow crops that had spread to his land. The spread of their crop is probably why they purchased the Terminator seed technology (sterile seeds). Based on what I have seen, I can understand the company’s desire to hold onto proprietary technology but the company should also try to maintain some semblance of compassion for their customers.

]]> By: Michael Harroch http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17904 Michael Harroch Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:34:40 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17904 This was a very interesting documentary to me. I have oftentimes heard Monsanto's name in discussions relating to corporate ethics. It seems that they are usually portrayed as the quintessential "evil corporation' which completely disregards any environmental and social consequences derived from their activities. I now understand why. The Karnataka State Farmers Association's campaign to stop genetically modified crop testing reminds me of similar events that occurred in France in the late 90s. A similar movement lead by farmer and self-proclaimed political figure Jose Bove destroyed such facilities. He was finally arrested after vandalizing a McDonald's restaurant. This was a very interesting documentary to me. I have oftentimes heard Monsanto’s name in discussions relating to corporate ethics. It seems that they are usually portrayed as the quintessential “evil corporation’ which completely disregards any environmental and social consequences derived from their activities. I now understand why.
The Karnataka State Farmers Association’s campaign to stop genetically modified crop testing reminds me of similar events that occurred in France in the late 90s. A similar movement lead by farmer and self-proclaimed political figure Jose Bove destroyed such facilities. He was finally arrested after vandalizing a McDonald’s restaurant.

]]> By: Vitus Holzner http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17902 Vitus Holzner Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:21:05 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17902 Well I don’t want to be cynic but I think it is another example of how the US (and other western countries for that matter) only loves the free market if it’s their favour. Will, you are making a good point here. Let the free market settle it. So let’s stop subsidising US agricultural products. Well I guess everyone knows that this is never going to happen. The United States and Europe flood the world market with cheap, heavily subsidised ag-products. I just recently read an article how the EU dumps milk on the African market, essentially ruining the local agricultural infrastructure in these countries. This is exactly the same what happens with cotton farmers in India. With regards to Monsanto I think by now its common knowledge how ethical this organization is. What takes place in India now happened just a few years earlier in Indonesia. Monsanto pushed its genetically modified cotton on the market and ruined hundreds of farmers exactly the same way the Indian farmers get screwed now Resources: http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2005/Monsanto-Bribes-Indonesia1sep05.htm http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11079 Well I don’t want to be cynic but I think it is another example of how the US (and other western countries for that matter) only loves the free market if it’s their favour. Will, you are making a good point here. Let the free market settle it. So let’s stop subsidising US agricultural products. Well I guess everyone knows that this is never going to happen. The United States and Europe flood the world market with cheap, heavily subsidised ag-products. I just recently read an article how the EU dumps milk on the African market, essentially ruining the local agricultural infrastructure in these countries. This is exactly the same what happens with cotton farmers in India.
With regards to Monsanto I think by now its common knowledge how ethical this organization is. What takes place in India now happened just a few years earlier in Indonesia. Monsanto pushed its genetically modified cotton on the market and ruined hundreds of farmers exactly the same way the Indian farmers get screwed now

Resources:
http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2005/Monsanto-Bribes-Indonesia1sep05.htm
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11079

]]> By: Jeff http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17900 Jeff Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:08:45 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17900 It's disturbing to see people committing suicide because they can't pay back loan-shark loans. I'm sure they didn't think about the consequences of defaulting when they took out the loans in the first place. I'm also sure that there was some element of crime when the money lenders are local store owners. They should be arrested if what they're doing is against the law. What's more disturbing to me, that wasn't really covered in any depth, was greater crime against humanity in that that the hybrid cotton doesn't produce seeds that can be used for the next season. This forces an endless cycle of going into debt to buy the seeds, harvesting the crop, paying off the loan and maybe keeping a little, than starting all over again. If the weather isn't good and there's a drought, the farmer has no recourse. They'll have to double their crop the next year to cover their failed crop. The government of india should try to prevent the use of sterile genetically modified plants that aren't self-replicating. Our government should be doing the same. It’s disturbing to see people committing suicide because they can’t pay back loan-shark loans. I’m sure they didn’t think about the consequences of defaulting when they took out the loans in the first place. I’m also sure that there was some element of crime when the money lenders are local store owners. They should be arrested if what they’re doing is against the law.

What’s more disturbing to me, that wasn’t really covered in any depth, was greater crime against humanity in that that the hybrid cotton doesn’t produce seeds that can be used for the next season.

This forces an endless cycle of going into debt to buy the seeds, harvesting the crop, paying off the loan and maybe keeping a little, than starting all over again. If the weather isn’t good and there’s a drought, the farmer has no recourse. They’ll have to double their crop the next year to cover their failed crop.

The government of india should try to prevent the use of sterile genetically modified plants that aren’t self-replicating.

Our government should be doing the same.

]]> By: Frederick Peemoeller http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17812 Frederick Peemoeller Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:24:31 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17812 Monsanto is a company that American investors loved two years ago. Its agricultural business was skyrocketing and profits were coming in hand over fist. It seemed like every investor wanted to have this company in their portfolio, and it could do no wrong. In the midst of this, I couldn't believe to hear that this was going on in India. There seemed to be little backlash from its investor because of their actions, and it shows the concerns of its investors are more towards earnings than social well being. Monsanto is a company that American investors loved two years ago. Its agricultural business was skyrocketing and profits were coming in hand over fist. It seemed like every investor wanted to have this company in their portfolio, and it could do no wrong. In the midst of this, I couldn’t believe to hear that this was going on in India. There seemed to be little backlash from its investor because of their actions, and it shows the concerns of its investors are more towards earnings than social well being.

]]> By: Kirk Story http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17624 Kirk Story Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:11:05 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17624 “The Dying Fields” is an extremely disturbing documentary about the high suicide rate amongst India’s rural farmers. I’m struck by the similarities shared with India’s rural farmers and the share croppers of the south in the decades following the civil war. Both are exploited by debt to lenders and land owners. Most infuriating, yet unsurprising, is the presence of Monsanto Corporation. Monsanto, in my mind, is one of the most irresponsible corporations threatening both the environment and humanity. Since the “Dying Fields” production, it appears Indian farmers are fighting back. In blunt language, the Karnataka State Farmers Association of India recently declared, "We send today, a very clear message to all those who have invested in Monsanto in India and abroad; take your money out now, before we reduce it to ashes.” This statement is derived from the below described event found at http://www.lightparty.com/Health/IndiaCheers.html “At 1.30 in the afternoon on 28th November 1998, in Sindhanoor, in the Indi an state of Karnataka, the leader of the Karnataka State Farmers Association (KRRS), a movement which claims a membership of ten million, arrived at one of India's first Monsanto test sites. The owner of the field, Basanna Hunsole, came out to greet him. With the help of Basanna's neighbors, a number of KRRS members, other local grassroots organizations representing 'untouchables' and landless farmers, they proceeded to tear up every one of the genetically modified cotton plants growing there. They stacked them in a heap in the middle of the field, and set them on fire. In minutes, Monsanto's test crop was reduced to ashes. This was the first strike in a grassroots campaign that is spreading rapidly across India: 'Operation Cremate Monsanto'. Professor Nanjundaswamy, a committed Gandhian and leader of the KRRS, issued a statement to the press as the field burned. ‘We denounce the ignorance, incompetence and irresponsibility of the Union government to gamble with the future of Indian agriculture," said the Professor. He went on to demand that all tests of genetically modified crops in India be stopped, that the country's Patent Act be amended to stop the patenting of basic crop varieties, and that Monsanto be banned from the country. Otherwise, he said, Indian farmers would continue to take the situation into their own hands.’” “The Dying Fields” is an extremely disturbing documentary about the high suicide rate amongst India’s rural farmers. I’m struck by the similarities shared with India’s rural farmers and the share croppers of the south in the decades following the civil war. Both are exploited by debt to lenders and land owners. Most infuriating, yet unsurprising, is the presence of Monsanto Corporation. Monsanto, in my mind, is one of the most irresponsible corporations threatening both the environment and humanity.

Since the “Dying Fields” production, it appears Indian farmers are fighting back. In blunt language, the Karnataka State Farmers Association of India recently declared, “We send today, a very clear message to all those who have invested in Monsanto in India and abroad; take your money out now, before we reduce it to ashes.”
This statement is derived from the below described event found at http://www.lightparty.com/Health/IndiaCheers.html
“At 1.30 in the afternoon on 28th November 1998, in Sindhanoor, in the Indi an state of Karnataka, the leader of the Karnataka State Farmers Association (KRRS), a movement which claims a membership of ten million, arrived at one of India’s first Monsanto test sites. The owner of the field, Basanna Hunsole, came out to greet him. With the help of Basanna’s neighbors, a number of KRRS members, other local grassroots organizations representing ‘untouchables’ and landless farmers, they proceeded to tear up every one of the genetically modified cotton plants growing there. They stacked them in a heap in the middle of the field, and set them on fire. In minutes, Monsanto’s test crop was reduced to ashes.

This was the first strike in a grassroots campaign that is spreading rapidly across India: ‘Operation Cremate Monsanto’. Professor Nanjundaswamy, a committed Gandhian and leader of the KRRS, issued a statement to the press as the field burned. ‘We denounce the ignorance, incompetence and irresponsibility of the Union government to gamble with the future of Indian agriculture,” said the Professor. He went on to demand that all tests of genetically modified crops in India be stopped, that the country’s Patent Act be amended to stop the patenting of basic crop varieties, and that Monsanto be banned from the country. Otherwise, he said, Indian farmers would continue to take the situation into their own hands.’”

]]> By: Lindsay Leaver http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17381 Lindsay Leaver Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:54:41 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17381 This is a huge mess. A massive, huge, giant mess. The debt forgiveness is a start, but it doesn't seem to be a solution to the problem, just a temporary relief. It seems to me that after their loans are forgiven, they will have to take loans again to buy the seeds, and the problem will repeat. The same seeds, lack of irrigation, and low cotton prices will still be present, thus perpetuating the problem. Matt touched on Monsanto and I agree completely. The root problem in the video, to me - an organic and sustainable farming fan - is that Monsanto's evilness has spread further than I knew. I am aware of their terror reign here in the United States, but I didn't realize it had spread to a rural Indian village (although considering India is the 3rd largest cotton producer in the world, it makes sense). Monsanto is selling seeds that the Indian farmers don't have the irrigation to grow properly. They are making false promises of fruitful farming when they know full well that their BT seeds won't work on a majority of these farms. Get rid of Monsanto, let the farmers produce their seeds like they used to before it cost them anything. Loans from the mafia-style lenders won't need to be taken and they can start making money again instead of always paying themselves out of debt. This is a huge mess. A massive, huge, giant mess. The debt forgiveness is a start, but it doesn’t seem to be a solution to the problem, just a temporary relief. It seems to me that after their loans are forgiven, they will have to take loans again to buy the seeds, and the problem will repeat. The same seeds, lack of irrigation, and low cotton prices will still be present, thus perpetuating the problem.

Matt touched on Monsanto and I agree completely. The root problem in the video, to me - an organic and sustainable farming fan - is that Monsanto’s evilness has spread further than I knew. I am aware of their terror reign here in the United States, but I didn’t realize it had spread to a rural Indian village (although considering India is the 3rd largest cotton producer in the world, it makes sense). Monsanto is selling seeds that the Indian farmers don’t have the irrigation to grow properly. They are making false promises of fruitful farming when they know full well that their BT seeds won’t work on a majority of these farms.

Get rid of Monsanto, let the farmers produce their seeds like they used to before it cost them anything. Loans from the mafia-style lenders won’t need to be taken and they can start making money again instead of always paying themselves out of debt.

]]> By: William Ary http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17359 William Ary Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:43:58 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17359 I see this situation as a foul up of incentives. The cotton farmers are receiving incentive to take out loans on cotton seeds which they may not need in order to have profitable harvests, this leads to debt and dishonor in the community which drives them to suicide and is destroying their society. The solution is to remove all of the incentives for things other than a profitable cotton crop, which was the only incentive that drove the farmers' ancestors. Let the market for cotton sort out this issue. I think that subsidizing BT cotton or marriages will inevitably worsen the situation because it does not treat the problem directly. It only treats the economic symptoms. Ultimately, the farmers will either learn to buy only what they need and avoid becoming slaves to loan sharks or they will leave the business and do something that is more profitable. That is simple economics and it avoids incentivizing behaviors that don't directly help the cotton farmers compete I see this situation as a foul up of incentives. The cotton farmers are receiving incentive to take out loans on cotton seeds which they may not need in order to have profitable harvests, this leads to debt and dishonor in the community which drives them to suicide and is destroying their society. The solution is to remove all of the incentives for things other than a profitable cotton crop, which was the only incentive that drove the farmers’ ancestors.

Let the market for cotton sort out this issue. I think that subsidizing BT cotton or marriages will inevitably worsen the situation because it does not treat the problem directly. It only treats the economic symptoms. Ultimately, the farmers will either learn to buy only what they need and avoid becoming slaves to loan sharks or they will leave the business and do something that is more profitable. That is simple economics and it avoids incentivizing behaviors that don’t directly help the cotton farmers compete

]]> By: Alex Thornton http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-17220 Alex Thornton Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:37:22 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-17220 As Logan suggested, part 5 is very good. The government in India created communal weddings to save them the "crushing expense" of a wedding. The couples were given about 300 dollars to offset the cost of the bride's dowry. These communal weddings are rife with couples already married, trying to get more money. Of 154 (not the 700 Logan wrote down) couples investigated, 140 were found to already be married. Assuming the investigated couples were chosen at random, this suggests that over 90% of the weddings were fraudulent. This is a great lesson in the economics of incentives. Clearly wasteful spending by the government needs to be addressed in India. As Logan suggested, part 5 is very good.

The government in India created communal weddings to save them the “crushing expense” of a wedding. The couples were given about 300 dollars to offset the cost of the bride’s dowry.

These communal weddings are rife with couples already married, trying to get more money. Of 154 (not the 700 Logan wrote down) couples investigated, 140 were found to already be married. Assuming the investigated couples were chosen at random, this suggests that over 90% of the weddings were fraudulent. This is a great lesson in the economics of incentives.

Clearly wasteful spending by the government needs to be addressed in India.

]]> By: Matt Eves http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/india/the-dying-fields/#comment-10242 Matt Eves Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:40:14 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-dying-fields/#comment-10242 One of the links in this blog zeroed in on responsibility for the high suicide rate among poor rural cotton farmers in India. In an interview of Indian activist Vandana Shiva (nuclear scientist who became an anti-globalization activist 20 years ago), by Fred de Sam Lazaro (NewsHour correspondent), de Sam Lazaro cites that the government used to guarantee Indian farmers minimum prices, but has now backed away because of new market policies. Further, there is a new problem for farmers besides the 2 usual foes of monsoons and markets, it is Monsanto. Activist Shiva states “every seed that is in the market in cotton today is linked to one company or the other, licensed and controlled by Monsanto.” If you go to Monsanto’s website there is an entirely different picture. I can’t believe the images and information I am receiving re; “The Dying Fields” vs. Monsanto’s polished website presentation titled “Biotech Cotton Improving Lives of Farmers, Villages in India” <a href="http://www.monsanto.com/responsibility/sustainable-ag/biotech_cotton_india.asp" rel="nofollow">Website-Monsanto</a> It is terrifying that land confiscation, genetically altered seeds, and corrupt loan sharks are everywhere in evidence in these areas of India, causing countless suicides and the destruction of centuries old ways of life, but Monsanto just keeps moving along with the fairy tale. One of the links in this blog zeroed in on responsibility for the high suicide rate among poor rural cotton farmers in India. In an interview of Indian activist Vandana Shiva (nuclear scientist who became an anti-globalization activist 20 years ago), by Fred de Sam Lazaro (NewsHour correspondent), de Sam Lazaro cites that the government used to guarantee Indian farmers minimum prices, but has now backed away because of new market policies. Further, there is a new problem for farmers besides the 2 usual foes of monsoons and markets, it is Monsanto. Activist Shiva states “every seed that is in the market in cotton today is linked to one company or the other, licensed and controlled by Monsanto.”
If you go to Monsanto’s website there is an entirely different picture. I can’t believe the images and information I am receiving re; “The Dying Fields” vs. Monsanto’s polished website presentation titled “Biotech Cotton Improving Lives of Farmers, Villages in India” Website-Monsanto
It is terrifying that land confiscation, genetically altered seeds, and corrupt loan sharks are everywhere in evidence in these areas of India, causing countless suicides and the destruction of centuries old ways of life, but Monsanto just keeps moving along with the fairy tale.

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