Hybrid rice in China - A great yield forward? by GRAIN | 22 Jan 2007 Seedling - January 2007 Well over half of China’s total rice-growing area of some 15 million hectares is planted with rice hybrids, making the country by far the world’s largest producer of the crop. But little is known about the impact of the switch to hybrids. Are yields higher? Are farmers better off? Is the country losing its traditional rice varieties? Are farmers becoming dependent on the seed companies? GRAIN talked to rice farmers in the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan to find out. Well over half of China’s total rice-growing area of some 15 million hectares is planted with rice hybrids, making the country by far the world’s largest producer of the crop. But little is known about the impact of the switch to hybrids. Are yields higher? Are farmers better off? Is the country losing its traditional rice varieties? Are farmers becoming dependent on the seed companies? GRAIN talked to rice farmers in the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan to find out.
The Great Yield Forward? A photo essay on China's hybrid rice by GRAIN | 20 Jan 2007 In September 2006 GRAIN went to rural Yunnan and Sichuan, two of China's major rice farming areas, to interview farmers about their experience growing hybrid rice. A full report from this trip is available in the January 2007 issue of Seedling: (http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=455) Photos in this photo essay are taken by GRAIN staff, with consent of the subject in most cases, and are free of copyright. You can download the PDF version of the essay In September 2006 GRAIN went to rural Yunnan and Sichuan, two of China's major rice farming areas, to interview farmers about their experience growing hybrid rice. A full report from this trip is available in the January 2007 issue of Seedling: (http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=455) Photos in this photo essay are taken by GRAIN staff, with consent of the subject in most cases, and are free of copyright. You can download the PDF version of the essay
Nyéléni - for food sovereignty by GRAIN | 20 Jan 2007 Seedling - January 2007 We interview Mamadou Goïta from Mali and P.V. Satheesh from India before the Nyéléni forum to be held in Mali. We interview Mamadou Goïta from Mali and P.V. Satheesh from India before the Nyéléni forum to be held in Mali.
Bt cotton - the facts behind the hype by GRAIN | 18 Jan 2007 Seedling - January 2007 It has been over ten years now since genetically modified Bt cotton was first commercialised. Since then it has been introduced or tested in more than twenty countries. The crop is a clear success for Monsanto, the leading Bt cotton company. But what has it meant for farmers? Today, a more complete picture is finally emerging of what is happening on the farm in many countries throughout the world. It has been over ten years now since genetically modified Bt cotton was first commercialised. Since then it has been introduced or tested in more than twenty countries. The crop is a clear success for Monsanto, the leading Bt cotton company. But what has it meant for farmers? Today, a more complete picture is finally emerging of what is happening on the farm in many countries throughout the world.
Ndiogou Fall by GRAIN | 16 Jan 2007 Seedling - January 2007 Ndiogou Fall is President of the Executive Committee of ROPPA (Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et de Producteurs Agricoles de l’Afrique de l’Ouest/Network of Farmers and Peasant Organisations in West Africa – http://www.roppa.info), the main umbrella group for peasant farmers in West Africa. Here we provide a summary of a longer, unpublished interview about ROPPA and some of its political thinking. Ndiogou Fall is President of the Executive Committee of ROPPA (Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et de Producteurs Agricoles de l’Afrique de l’Ouest/Network of Farmers and Peasant Organisations in West Africa – http://www.roppa.info), the main umbrella group for peasant farmers in West Africa. Here we provide a summary of a longer, unpublished interview about ROPPA and some of its political thinking.
Reclaiming livestock keepers' rights by Patrick Mulvany and Susanne Gura | 14 Jan 2007 Seedling - January 2007 At an intergovernmental conference organised by FAO later this year, pastoralists and small-scale livestock keepers will have an opportunity to challenge governments about the perilous situation of their livelihoods, their reduced access to resources and the resulting losses to their livestock breeds. Without their efforts in their grazing territories and on their farms, the world’s precious diversity of livestock breeds will disappear. At an intergovernmental conference organised by FAO later this year, pastoralists and small-scale livestock keepers will have an opportunity to challenge governments about the perilous situation of their livelihoods, their reduced access to resources and the resulting losses to their livestock breeds. Without their efforts in their grazing territories and on their farms, the world’s precious diversity of livestock breeds will disappear.
Is food different? by review by GRAIN | 12 Jan 2007 Seedling - January 2007 Peter M. Rossett, Food is different – why we must get the WTO out of agriculture, 2006 Peter M. Rossett, Food is different – why we must get the WTO out of agriculture, 2006
Biopiracy: a system of appropriation by review by GRAIN | 8 Jan 2007 Seedling - January 2007 Ikechi Mgbeoji, Global Biopiracy – Patents, Plants and Indigenous Knowledge, 2006 Ikechi Mgbeoji, Global Biopiracy – Patents, Plants and Indigenous Knowledge, 2006
Declaration from Mezcala: In Defense of Mother Earth and Indigenous Autonomy by Indigenous Congress of Mexico | 6 Dec 2006 This declaration was released during the convocation and gathering of the National Forum in Defense of Mother Earth and Indigenous Autonomy on November 17-19, 2006. This declaration was released during the convocation and gathering of the National Forum in Defense of Mother Earth and Indigenous Autonomy on November 17-19, 2006.
False hopes, festering failures: Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh 2005-2006 by Abdul Qayum & Kiran Sakhari | 28 Nov 2006