The U.S. company Monsanto has produced GM seeds to Haiti. This incident was reported on May 10 in an article written by the French priest Jean-Yves IFRU, former Professor of Chemistry College St. Martial, Port-au-Prince. IFRU wrote in his article: "The transnational corporation Monsanto offer farmers the country a 475 tons of deadly gift of transgenic maize, with fertilizer and pesticides shareholders, which will be provided free by Project Winner, with support from the U.S. embassy in Haiti. " He said the multinational Monsanto has already begun to distribute the transgenic corn seed in the regions of Gonaives, Kenscoff, Petion-Ville, Cabara, Arcahaie, Croix-des-Bouquets and Mirebalais.
The strong impact of this information has forced the Minister of Agriculture of Haiti, Joana Ford, to call a press conference last May 12 in Port-au-Prince. The Minister Ford said "Haiti has no ability to administer the GMO before deny that the donation was Monsanto's GM maize." We take all precautions before accepting the offer made by the multinational Monsanto to receive a donation of 475,947 kg of hybrid maize seed and 2067 kg of vegetable seed. We must also mention that in the absence of a law that regulates the use of Genetically Modified Organisms in Haiti, I can not allow the introduction of seeds 'Roundup Ready' or any other variety of transgenic, "he stressed the Minister.
According to Ford, hybrid seeds which Monsanto is promoting are adapted to tropical conditions in Haiti. What is part of a campaign of the Ministry of Agriculture to revive the agricultural sector after the earthquake of January 12. The Minister also indicated that in this more than 65 000 hectares of land are to benefit from a spirited preparation by tractors, fertilizers and pesticides, and farmers receive training.
Monsanto has found itself obliged to decide this case. "We believe that agriculture is the key to recovery of Haiti over the long term, "said the transnational in a note posted on its web page. "After the disaster, Monsanto has donated money to the relief (Haiti)," the note continues, "but it was clear that the gift of our products - from corn and vegetable seed quality - could be real difference in the lives of Haitians. " With this mindset generous largest seed company in the world has decided to give Haiti the equivalent of $ 4 million in seed of hybrid corn, cabbage, carrot, eggplant, melon, onion, tomato, spinach, and watermelon. 60 tons of seeds have arrived in Haitian territory during the first week of May. Additional 70 tons arrived in Port-au-Prince on May 13. It is expected that for the next 12 months an additional 345 tons of hybrid seed corn to be distributed to farmers across the country.
Open Market
The earthquake of January 12 has killed 300 000 people and left more than a million Haitians homeless. The consequences were devastating. But although he reached 7 degrees on the Richter scale, it is unlikely that the earthquake had destroyed the operating structures of a transnational company like Monsanto. The donation of 475 tons of hybrid seeds can be seen as an act of generosity on the part of the transnational to the Haitian people. However, the conditions under which the gift was made is viewed more closely, this generosity is a simple entrepreneurial tactics to increase profits.
Monsanto gains from December 2009 through February 2010 were 887 million. During the same period last year, earnings were $ 1.09 billion, which means a fall of 19%. According to Hugh Grant, executive director of the transnational, the principal cause of this decline was the decrease in sales of herbicides and chemicals.
early April, during a conference in the presence of chroniclers, Grant said he could not use price increases to offset this decline, as farmers do not seem willing to pay higher prices for New specimens of transgenic seeds, some of them are twice more expensive than most varieties grown today. "The feedback I owners property indicates that if our prices were different, the adoption curve of seeds would be different "he said.
As it is not possible to raise the price of its products, the only solution is to thwart Monsanto this fall by opening new markets. And this is no coincidence that just one month after the conference dess Hugh Grant Monsanto seeds arrive in Haiti.
What has not been said or by Monsanto, or by the Ministry of Agriculture of Haiti, is the seed corn hybrids can not fulfill their promises of productivity and resilience tropical climate of Haiti if they are treated with herbicides, fertilizers and specialty chemicals, which are precisely produced by Monsanto. This means that Haitian farmers who receive seed hybrids do manage to make it productive only if they acquire fertilizers and herbicides from Monsanto.
Moreover, farmers can not replant the seeds of maize issuent, since one of the characteristics of these hybrid seeds is that only the first generation is fertile. If they want to continue to sow the Haitian peasants have to buy new seeds from Monsanto.
At this rate, with increasing consumption of seeds and implicitly herbicides, fertilizers and chemicals Monsanto, the forecast of Father Jean-Yves IFRU can become reality: "Soon there will be seeds that Monsanto in Haiti. And then, it will be the end of independence for farmers. "
Winner
Monsanto is not alone in this endeavor. Transportation and the logistics of distribution of seeds in Haiti is in favor of two other U.S. companies: the Kuehne + Swim Emergency and Relief Logistics and UPS Foundation.
Ken Sternad, UPS president, urged to comment on this action: "It's part of our continuing efforts to support Haiti's recovery, UPS al'orgueil provide its services to the seed vessels, as the country begins to move toward the construction a sustainable future ".
This" sustainable future "mentioned Sternad, attracting the interest of many foreign companies is defined in the Project Winner launched October 8, 2009 by USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) (1). The Project Winner will invest $ 126 million over the next five years to build new infrastructure agriculture in Haiti, with the objective of increasing its productivity. Meanwhile, this program will provide specialized technical assistance, in addition to technical services and agricultural inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers.
is through this project that will be distributed 475 tonnes of the seeds from Monsanto. In fact, these seeds will not come directly into the hands of the Haitian peasants, they will first be shipped to stores run by USAID and are then sold for a price "significantly reduced" to farmers. "Our goal is to reach 10 000 farmers supply during this season, "said Jean Robert Estime, director in charge of Project Winner. "The seeds help feed and provide economic opportunities for farmers, their families and the Haitian community in general."
To understand what these "economic opportunity", one must know the players are behind the Project Winner. Its director responsible, Jean Robert Estime, served as Foreign Minister during the 29 years of the Duvalier dictatorship in Haiti, a time in which more than 30,000 Haitians were murdered and the country opened its doors to foreign food products. Through this opening, Haiti now imports 80% of their food.
architect and coordinator of the WINNER project, USAID is a U.S. government agency created in 1961. According to his official webpage, it has the mission to "promote the interests of the external policy of the United States in expanding democracy and free markets, improving the lives of citizens in the developing world." With headquarters in Washington / DC, USAID is present on five continents. His work supports "economic growth and progress of the external policy of the United States." New
earthquake
Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, Coordinator Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP) and member of Via Campesina said that Haiti is "This is a new earthquake most dangerous long-term as that which took place January 12. It is not a threat but a very strong attack against agriculture, peasants, biodiversity, native seeds that we stand for, and what remains of our environmental medium in Haiti "
Chavannes accuses the government of Haiti to take advantage of the earthquake for sale the country to imperialist forces and transnational corporations. "We can not accept this," remarked the peasant leader, "we must start mobilizing against it, against the arrival of Monsanto in Haiti. We need a strong unity in Haiti and a strong international solidarity to deal with Monsanto and all the deadly forces that want to end the sovereignty of this small country that gained its independence with the blood of its children and its girls in 1804.
As a first step in this confrontation, the MPP demanThalles GOMESdé farmers to bury and burn all the seeds corn from the Ministry of Agriculture. Additionally, the Via Campesina in Haiti organize a big march on 4 and 5 June, to mark the International Day of Environment. The march will start from the region Papay flights to the city of Hinche, capital of the Central Department. (Translation ALAI)
Thalles Gomes, Brazilian journalist, solidarity brigade of Via Campesina Brazil in Port-au-Prince - Haiti.
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