Buoyed Monsanto says cotton project continues<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Buoyed by impressive initial results of its
\nproject in Indonesia, the local unit of Monsanto announced on
\nWednesday that it is continuing with controversial transgenic
\ncotton farming in South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Hans Bijlmer, country director of the St. Louis-based
\ntransgenic-seed giant, said the company was forging ahead with
\nthe project, confident of continued government support.<\/p>\n
\"The Minister of Agriculture (Bungaran Saragih), in a meeting
\nwith cotton farmers in Bulukumba and Bantaeng, promised to extend
\nthe license for transgenic cotton. And I think he will,\" Bijlmer
\ntold The Jakarta Post after briefing the media on the initial
\nresults of the South Sulawesi cotton project.<\/p>\n
The ministry ignored protests in February by some non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs) and issued a license allowing
\nlimited release of the genetically modified cotton known as Bt
\nCotton or Bollgard, imported from South Africa, in the province.<\/p>\n
The NGOs opposed the commercial application of genetic
\ntechnology saying that,despite promises of better yields, the
\nfull impact on human lives and the environment was not yet known.<\/p>\n
PT Monagro Kimia, the Indonesian unit of Monsanto, said in a
\nstatement that yields in its genetically enhanced cotton
\nplantation reached 1.5 tons to three tons per hectare, or three
\ntimes to four times higher than conventional varieties.<\/p>\n
It said commercial planting of the Bollgard cotton was the
\nfirst in the tropics, and the average results were better or
\nmatched those achieved by small-holders in South Africa and
\nChina.<\/p>\n
Biljmer's optimism came despite South Sulawesi Governor HZB
\nPalaguna's remarks on Wednesday that the project might be
\nterminated after the burning of four hectares of transgenic
\ncotton plantations in Bulukumba regency, apparently by farmers
\ninvolved in the project.<\/p>\n
Biljmer accused NGOs opposed to transgenic crops as being
\nbehind the incident.<\/p>\n
\"We suspect that NGOs were behind it. It's like the
\ndemonstrations, they are not spontaneous but organized,\" he said,
\nwithout mentioning any specific NGO by name.<\/p>\n
Monagro Kimia currently manages transgenic-cotton farms in
\nseven regencies in South Sulawesi: Takalar, Gowa, Bantaeng,
\nBulukumba, Bone, Soppeng and Wajo, covering a total area of 4,363
\nhectares, involving 6,500 farmers.<\/p>\n
The National Consortium for Nature and Forest Conservation,
\nwhich is leading a coalition of 72 NGOs opposing the commercial
\nintroduction of transgenic technology, challenged Bijlmer to
\nprove his accusation.<\/p>\n
Executive director Tejo Wahyu Jatmika said the attack by local
\nfarmers reflected their discontent that the project had not
\nimproved their condition.<\/p>\n
\"It proves that PT Monagro Kimia only gave false promises,\"
\nTejo said.<\/p>\n
Monagro fabricated the accusation to divert public attention
\nfrom the real problem: the project was a failure, he said.<\/p>\n
Tejo also questioned the Minister of Agriculture's promise to
\nextend the license on transgenic plantation before a review.<\/p>\n
\"The review will not take place until Oct. 8. How could the
\nminister have given the green light?\" he asked. (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/buoyed-monsanto-says-cotton-project-continues-1447893297",
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