Transgenic cotton project to be reviewed

Transgenic cotton project to be reviewed

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): South Sulawesi governor HZB
Palaguna said cessation of the genetically modified cotton
project on a total of 4,462 hectares of land in seven regencies
in the province was likely should the project hurt local farmers.

Therefore, he promised to review the controversial transgenic
cotton project, following the burning of hectares of transgenic
plantation by farmers in the village of Bontobiraeng, in Kajang
district, Bulukumba regency, 230 kilometers south of Makassar,
last week.

The farmers were upset about the fact that the genetically
modified cotton was not as productive as scientists and
businesspeople had always claimed.

They set fire to one hectare of transgenic cotton plantation
and poisoned another, after destroying three hectares of
plantation one day earlier on Sept. 12.

They also displayed annoyance with PT Monsanto, supplier of
the imported transgenic cotton seeds from South Africa in March.
The importer was a Jakarta-based company, PT Monagro Kimia.

Palaguna admitted that his office had yet to receive detailed
reports on the burning of the cotton plantations.

"I have instructed all parties concerned to investigate the
incident. I have frequently said that if the project hurts
farmers, don't continue."

Meanwhile, Burhanuddin Mustafa, head of the Plant Protection
office said that burning of the plantations only took place in
Bulukumba. He speculated that the low production of the
transgenic cotton was caused by the farmers' sloppiness in caring
for the plants.

"If care had been taken one hectare of field could have
produced between 1,500 tons and 2,000 tons of cotton," he said,
responding to farmers' complaints about the low production of
only 500 tons per hectare.

PT Monsanto spokesman Tri Soekirman said in a press release
that the (Bulukumba) farmers might have been provoked by certain
groups that were against the project. "We regret the burning of
the plantations. Destroying and burning the plantations will not
solve anything."

The genetically modified cotton has caused controversy since
the arrival of 40 tons of the seed at Makassar airport in mid-
March.

Environmentalists protested the importation of the seed, which
was recommended by Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih.

Then state minister for the environment Sonny Keraf was also
against Saragih's recommendations. (27/sur)