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Experts question benefits of GM maize for small farmers

Carlos Quispe, a farmer

William Vivanco, advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture

Antonietta Gutiérrez, an expert in biotechnology from the University of Agriculture and

Crisólogo Caceres, president of Aspec and Rafael

Rojas, agronomist

• question the benefits of transgenic corn and similar crops for small farmers.
• Carlos Quispe says that older farmers are not concerned by GM: ignorance makes them immune to the debate in Peru. But his contemporary colleagues as they talk themselves, they understand that Bt corn is a transgenic maize free of stalking of the larvae, and reached a conclusion:
• "No one has sown GM here, not known, then no risks. What will their production and how it will affect people? ".
• Quispe The maize crop, as in other coastal areas south and north, is the hard yellow. It's that, but GM, which aims to plant in Peru.
• In addition to transgenic cotton and soybeans. According to Customs, imports of this corn increased 40% in 2010: in total amounted to U.S. $ 432.3 million (1.9 tons). Peru imports 70% of yellow maize for the poultry industry and food industry (cereals, for example).
• William Vivanco defended the entry of GM maize. "This crop will increase the productivity of farmers. There is much potential in the central highlands and north coast, "he says.
• The Minag notes that there are about 280 thousand hectares of cultivated maize, 183 900 under the yellow hard. "We are less than 5,000 kilos per hectare. With GM could reach 8,000 kg. With 400 000 hectares of maize on the coast could supply yellow corn, "he says.
• Crisólogo Caceres, president of Aspec gives alternative because it believes that "The chicken could feed their animals with non-GM crops."
• Mario Acosta, executive director of the Valle Grande Rural Institute in Cañete, said that "the demand for maize in the poultry industry is high, you need to cover 50%, so it has to import. But it is a problem in the poultry, not the farmer, "Quispe why farmers and would have to stop the cultivation of corn hybrids that are profitable and passed into GM maize?
• With a 90 year study on hybrid maize and fertilizer levels, was passed in a few years of producing six to ten tons per hectare. A figure that does not conform to the Minag. And without major changes and investment.
• "It makes no sense to put something that will reduce insecticide use when you can have a negative effect to contaminate other varieties. It could improve maize yield with only investment. "
• The GM is not necessary. If there is a crossing, you lose the quality of a purple corn or Urubamba. So we were surprised by the decree of Minag. There are outstanding issues: public health and impact on biodiversity, "he adds.
• Antonietta Gutiérrez, states that" transgenic seed benefit farmers who have ample land and capital, who end up buying the farms of small farmers. Our strength is biodiversity, mass cultures. We can not compete with Brazil or the U.S. prairies, "notes
• Rafael Rojas, warns "The GM maize is consumed not only through the chicken: looking at the bee. How about eating GM pollen? "He says.
• But not only that. Corn Quispe profitable for not only for grain: the husks and cobs are sold as livestock feed. In other words, would milk and meat from an animal fed with genetically modified product

Via http://cendoc.cepes.org.pe