November 23, 2007

Philippine farmers criticize subsidy to BT corn

Organic farmers in Philippines' Mindanao region have blasted the decision of Department of Agriculture to provide financial support to those who will plant varieties of genetically-engineered corn or Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) corn.

Francis Morales, of the Upliftment of the Moral, Economic, Technological, Socio-spiritual Aspirations of Persons or Metsa Foundation, said the government subsidy to BT corn farmers benefits agricultural companies, which have high stakes in the BT corn business.

He said the agriculture department is "apparently serving as sales agent of the companies producing BT corn varieties like Monsanto and Syngenta."

Morales said by pledging to extend financial help to BT corn farmers, the DA is helping agricultural companies solve their marketing problem.

The DA in Central Mindanao recently announced that the subsidy would be P1,200 (US$27.71) per hectare.

It said the government was hoping that 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of land would be planted to BT corn in the region alone.