Pesticide and Environmental Update
Haitians Burn
Monsanto Seeds
Haitian farmers are calling the news that
Monsanto is donating 475 tons of pesticide-treated hybrid seeds a
"new earthquake," and members of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP
in Creole) have committed to burning the seeds. MPP Executive Director and
National Peasant Movement of the Congress of Papay (MPNKP) spokesperson
Chavannes Jean-Baptiste called Monsanto's seeds "a very strong attack
on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity, on Creole seeds… and
on what is left our environment in Haiti." The country's Ministry of
Agriculture originally rejected Monsanto's offer of Roundup Ready seeds,
because the country has no policy in place to regulate GMO's, but
consented to accept the donation after being assured in an email that the
seeds were not genetically modified. The 60,000 sacks of corn and
vegetable seeds are, however, patented hybrid varieties - meaning farmers
will have to purchase new seeds next year instead of being able to save
them - and have been treated with toxic chemicals. The tomato seeds were
doused in thiram, a highly hazardous pesticide whose home and garden use
has been banned in the U.S. because most consumers don't have access to
sufficient protective equipment.
Monsanto failed to mention any of the
dangers or necessary safety precautions of thiram to Haiti's Ministry of
Agriculture. The seeds will be distributed by the by the United States
Agency for International Development's (USAID), a tax-payer funded agency
infamous for promoting U.S. agendas while offering development assistance.
A Monsanto representative also told Business Week that, while Monsanto
won't be receiving any of the profits, farmers will have to pay for the
seeds, "to avoid flooding the local economy with free goods."
The U.S. hasn't had any qualms about flooding Haiti's markets in the past.
Haiti was forced to open its markets to foreign agricultural imports by
the International Monetary Fund in order to qualify for a much-needed
loan. Haitian farmers couldn't compete with heavily subsidized rice from
the U.S., and farmers lost their only source of income. In 2008, 78% of
Haitian people were living on less than $2 a day. Farmers involved in the
MPP's agroecological projects recognize Monsanto's ploy to force
chemical-reliant industrial agriculture on a struggling economy; Jean-Baptiste
said earlier this year, "We need to establish seed banks and have
silos where we can store our Creole seeds. Local, organic seeds are the
basis of food sovereignty.... It's urgent that Haitians buy local
seeds.... What's the danger we face today? It's that food aid from USAID
and others is getting dumped in the country."
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