Fieldnotes Excerpt: Dec. 2002, Warangal Dist. Andhra Pradesh
(names and various details changed or removed)
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DCP_4930.JPG
APCDD (AP Coalition in Defence of Diversity) meeting, Warangal 17 Dec 02.
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APCDD. C. Prakasham is in front row, arms folded.
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APCDD. Ravi G. Reddy recounts his experience with Bt cotton.
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APCDD. The whitebeard is Vangala, co-author of report being announced.
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VAARTHA coverage of Warangal BT meeting and claims about crop underperformance.
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VAARTHA coverage of Warangal BT meeting and claims about crop underperformance.
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Inputs shop, Chakanda village near Kurnool. Posters for Avaunt and the new pesticide Tracer.
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Inputs shop, Chakanda village near Kurnool. Posters for Avaunt and the new pesticide Tracer.
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N. Karunakar inputs shop, Chakanda village near Kurnool.
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N. Karunakar inputs shop, Chakanda village near Kurnool. N. Karunakar,
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C. Prakasham his BT field just south of Kurnool. BT field is off to the left (farmer's right), and Brahma to the right.
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C. Prakasham his BT field just south of Kurnool.
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GDS interviewing C. Prakasham his BT field just south of Kurnool.
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A.P. Coalition in Defence of Diversity meeting (17 Dec 02, Warangal). Daylong meeting by group of NGOs, with group of ca. 21 Bt planters f/Warangal Dist., including several who were in Vangala's sample. {4148} shows the farmers, {4930-4949} show the meeting. Samiah's invite letter {4929} said they would release results of their study of Bt farmers at the meeting. This was the study reported 11 December in The Hindu, and rebutted by the Centre in the 13 Dec Hindu.
I had lunch with organizer Seethara K. Rao, who outlined the role of CTES in organizing the study. Said the study was based on interviews with 21 non-large farmers (3-10 acres), and all planting Bt and conventional, in 6 different ecosystems. The 2 scientists who collected the data and wrote the report were recommended by KVS; the elder of the two, Vangala of the Agroforestry Inst {4939}, recently finished a 3-yr study of pesticide use local pigeonpea varieties commissioned for ICRISAT.
Farmers were invited to share their experiences {4935} and they were taped by CTES's camera crew. Ravi G. Reddy from Nagarsara village {4935} said he bought seed f/another farmer, not dealer; got light patsa purugu infestation so sprayed Avant. Claimed it only yielded till January whereas normal yielded till March. Madagatti from Marula Parthavishnu said he had got 4 quintals/acre from Bt (interviewed later; this was irrigated field) and 5 quintals/acre so far from regular; he looks to make more of his crop redgram as a cash crop this year. C. Prakasham from Kurnool village {4933, 4937; see below, visit to his farm} said plants were small but many bolls. Sprayed his refuge with Avant. Expecting 8q of Bt, 9 of regular. No spray for 90 days, then sprayed whole field inc. refuge. But pest load very low this year. Then N. Saruamulu of same vfillage reported Bt yield/expected is 6/7, Brahma 5/9. Prabhakar Mallesh from Kasarla said he was offered R200 less due to shorter staple; had fewer pests on the Bt; he sprayed Confidor for the sucking pests. Karjanna then said he sprayed nothing against patsa purugu and is satisfied with his yields -- expects 9q from 1.5 acres. Seethara asked why he would have such different results from everyone else, and a farmer from same village said he himself only got 5q. Karjanna attributed it to more secure water source and luck, prompting 5-min argument.
Later we had a group discussion on refugia and their rationale. I asked group why they had planted the refuges, what they thought it was for. Four answers emerged. 1) It was a govn rule (one said from the Pollution Control Board) , to keep Bt from impacting the env. 2) If you don't plant it, you are liable for contamination. 3) If you don't, the govn will uproot your crop. 4) Insects stop on the refuge,. where they can be easily sprayed.
Vaartha coverage of the BT reports. Meeting covered in Vanatu next day {4956}. Then Warangal edition of Vaartha has headline {5015} "BT Cotton manufacturers should be punished." Article says that at Warangal meeting, disclosed that Bt couldn't give results expected. Talked to 200 farmers, 21 BT farmers. Found no dif in pesticide use; found could make more money w/non-BT. Quoted Seethara and retired Joint Director T.A. Vangala saying higher yield claims not true. BT yields 25-30% less acc. to D. Kamolar, Dist. Coordinator. of A.P. Coalition.
Second article {5016} if from Vaartha agric desk, headline "Expected Results Not Shown by BT Cotton." Farmers disappointed in yields. Since only 1 company, no choice. Agric scientists reveal that Karnataka BT growers are getting bad results; 1 acre takes 450g of seeds costing R1600.
Kurnool Inputs Dealer {5017-5021}, A. Seenakar (18 Dec 02). He wouldn't want to try to get any BT cause farmers around there see it as a flop. Tracer was new last year, for pacha purugu not sucking pests. Costs R1000 for 100 ml, covers 1.25 acres; only effective one against pacha purugu.
C. Prakasham, Kurnool BT grower (18 Dec 02). {5023-5026; also in 5020} He told me at the Warangal meeting he adopted because of the test plot on his land in 2001. They only planted 8 guntas. Didn't pay him anything or give special instructions. He did all farming, spraying as needed. His regular needed 16 sprayings but BT only needed 3, all for sucking pests; had very few pacha purugu. So he decided to try this year, along with Brahma. Bought 3 boxes to cover 4 acres of BT, through Sunder Varamai in Warangal.
He was one of the ones in the study reported at the meeting and in The Hindu; says the study started here in fact. He was interviewed twice by Vangala and once by Shastri Rao.
He has 11 acres (3 in BT) and leased 1 (in BT), so 4 acres BT (3 acres Brahma). {5023} shows him on path between BT and refuge; notebook marks other edge of refuge. The BT sprays were 1)Tracer, 2)Pride, 3)Confidor. The Brahma sprays were 1)Pride 2)Confidor 3)Propenopos+Acefet 4)Avaunt+Pride, 5)Chloramphotopos 6)Confidor+Tracer The pesticide combos came from his own experience.
Prakasham started growing cotton around 1980; before that, rotated greengram and jowar. The refuge had pacha purugu, matsala purugu (talanatta); a few spodoptera and pink bollworm. He sprayed the refuge along with the Brahma (which it abuts). He did listen to the cassette, and it said to spray the refuge as normal. Said to spray when you saw 20 bollworms on 20 plants.
Overall he is dissatisfied because the yield was not good. The variety started making fruit after only 40 days (cf. Brahma which starts at 60 days). Says cotton is like people -- if they start reproducing too young they don't live as long. He & others around here will plant Brahma next year, even though he expects more pacha purugu next year. Are others here more satisfied? He's probably the most satisfied one cause his yield is better; others getting 4-5 q.
