BRAZIL STATE PAYS FARMERS TO RIP OUT GM SOYBEANS
December 7, 1999
Reuters
Phil Stewart
SAO PAULO -- Rio Grande do Sul state's agriculture secretary, Jose Hermeto
Hoffmann, was cited as saying that the southernmost state of Brazil will
launch what may be the world's first-ever crop substitution programme
aimed at weeding out genetically modified (GM) crops, and that by
treating GM soybeans like drug plants, the state will offer farmers a
total of 10 million reais (US$5.37 million) in special low-interest loans
if they rip out the lab-enhanced soyQillegal throughout BrazilQand replant
normal varieties, adding, "What we are telling them it is better to lose
seedlings than lose their entire crop."
Brazil, the world's second-largest soybean producer, is, the story says,
the last major competitor to top grower United States who has not followed
the North American country down the transgenic trail.
But the ban has not, the story adds, been enough to discourage many
farmers, especially in Rio Grande do Sul, where growers itching to save
money on costly weed killers have fuelled a thriving black market for
the suped-up seeds.
The Brazilian Association of Seed Producers (Abrasem) was cited as
estimating that the contraband crop could account for about eight percent
of Brazil's upcoming 31.5 million tonne crop and a third of production
in Rio Grande do Sul.
Hoffmann, however, estimated that GM planting was far lowerQlargely due
to an aggressive radio and television campaign warning farmers the
government will torch illegal crops.
The state has even sponsored a toll-free phone number called "Dial
Transgenics" to encourage law-abiding farmers to phone in tip-offs on
unusual planting activity.
Hoffmann was quoted as saying, "Sadly, our initial field inspections
showed that transgenic soybeans were grown on 20 farms in five
municipalities. While that is disappointing, it represents a small
fraction of the 700 tests that we have conducted."