Monday, April 7, 2008
Hybrid Rice Seeds Not A Boon for Bangladesh?
While private seed companies and organizations in Bangladesh are aggressively pushing their products amongst farmers, the government too is promoting the cultivation of hybrid rice to ensure food security for the country's poor.
Based on the estimates of hybrid seeds sold this year about 7 lakh hectares must have been under hybrid rice cultivation, according to sources.
The higher acreage under hybrid rice has come about despite opposition from environmental activists who claim that it will make farmers dependant on multinational companies that have the patent over the seed technology. “The seed will not be in the hands of farmers. It will always be in market and with the company. Hybrid will be the next future disaster,” says Farida Akhter of Nayakrishi Andolon, a non-governmental organisation, which works closely with farmers to preserv ecological agriculture.
Full report here
Based on the estimates of hybrid seeds sold this year about 7 lakh hectares must have been under hybrid rice cultivation, according to sources.
The higher acreage under hybrid rice has come about despite opposition from environmental activists who claim that it will make farmers dependant on multinational companies that have the patent over the seed technology. “The seed will not be in the hands of farmers. It will always be in market and with the company. Hybrid will be the next future disaster,” says Farida Akhter of Nayakrishi Andolon, a non-governmental organisation, which works closely with farmers to preserv ecological agriculture.
Full report here
Labels: Agricultural-Engineering
PermaLink - Hybrid Rice Seeds Not A Boon for Bangladesh? posted by Ecacofonix : 2:07 AM
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