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Sept 2015 back issue
by Isabell Zipfel
The region of Vidarbha in the federal state of Maharashtra in central India, once known for its high yielding cotton
harvest, has recently been making negative headlines because it has become the region that drives the most cotton
farmers in India to their deaths. More than 200,000 Maharashtra cotton farmers have taken their own lives over the
last decade – 70 % of them in Vidarbha.
A downward price spiral and sinking harvest yields are driving the farmers to despair. The cotton farmers‘ suicide is
only a symptom, a highly dramatic and tragic one, of the fight for survival which is facing all Indian cotton farmers.
India has allowed the import of cotton since 1998, on the insistence of the WTO. Since then, cotton prices have fallen
continuously. In addition, India has withdrawn from the state-buying of cotton. In 1970 the Indian state guaranteed the
cotton producers a fixed price, independent of the world market. In 1998 this regulation was abolished. In addition,
genetically modified Bt cotton was approved for use in 2002. Bt cotton seed is more expensive: It costs 1,900 Rs
per kg. Traditional seed costs just 200 Rs per kg. Bt cotton seed also has to be bought each year, while the traditional
seed could be used again. In addition, Bt cotton requires much more pesticide and fertilizer - which drives the
production costs to extreme heights.
The use of Bt cotton has led to a ten-fold increase in production costs - and at the same time, a reduced harvest yield.
There are many reasons for this. But the most important cause of the dramatic reduction in the harvest is the lack of
irrigation systems - 90% of all fields depend on rain. Bt cotton is not suitable for regions that have absolutely no
irrigation systems. In addition, new pests, which were not known in India before, like the mealybug, which destroys
complete fields, were introduced with the genetically manipulated Bt cotton.
The cultivation of Bt cotton in India has increased constantly since 2002. While in 2002 the area under cultivation was
only 50,000 hectares, in 2011 it was already more then 12.1 million hectares.
India counts as one of the countries with the largest area of Bt cotton under cultivation - even ahead of China.
Meanwhile, there is only Bt cotton seed to buy (all Indian seed producers have been bought up by Monsanto). It is
almost impossible to switch back to traditional cotton seed. Thus the farmers are forced to buy Bt cotton seed every
year at prices set by the suppliers.
Without the survival of the cotton plantations in India, a whole way of life could be lost. If the cotton farmers continue
to make losses - and it looks like they will - India will lose its farmers. This could well have devastating consequences
for the sub-continent, which is up to 60 percent agricultural.
I sought out farmers in Vidarbha, in the area around Wardha, visited the widows and bereaved of several cotton
farmers and documented their living conditions there.
Field workers in a soya bean field. Many cotton farmers grow soya beans nowadays, because BT cotton no longer
brings in a profit.
A statue in a temple in the village of Wadgeon where many cotton farmers live. It represents the mother goddess.
Cults of goddess worship are ancient in India. The goddess represents nature, motherhood, fertility and she embodies
the gifts of the earth.
A village where many cotton farmers live. Waifan is near Wardha.
Cotton.
The cost of BT Cotton seeds are much higher than the cost of traditional ones. They also require more pesticide and
more irrigation, which farmers don't always have access to.
A widow. She now works as a cotton farmer. But it is impossible to survive with cotton alone nowadays, so she grows
soya beans as well.
A widow working on her field.
Field workers working in a cotton field.
A vendor of Monsanto products in a village near Wardha. He thinks that it is the fault of the cotton farmers if they are
not making any profit with BT Cotton. He also sells Round Up pesticide.
The cost of BT Cotton seeds is much higher than the cost of traditional ones. They also require more pesticide and
more irrigation, which farmers don't always have access to.
Field workers.
A widow in her field.
A cotton farmer in his house which was destroyed by heavy rain. He has a 500.000 Rs debt because of BT cotton. It is
impossible for him to build a new house.
A widow. Her husband, a cotton farmer, committed suicide because he had debts due to BT cotton.
A farmer who killed himself in 2005. He drank pesticide in the field.
Widow of a farmer who committed suicide. She works as a cotton farmer now. She has a one acre field. But she can’t
make enough money to live, so she has to work for other farmers as well.
A part of the cotton crop of a widow of a cotton farmer.
A cotton farmer with his disabled brother. Since genetically modified cotton arrived in their village, the crops have not
been good.
