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)