Agriculture

Golden Rice is GMO; stop field testing, gov’t urged

by
Nov 12, 2012

By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today

The Magsasaka at Siyentipiko pasa sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag), in a statement released to the media, said the Golden Rice is “genetically modified” as it is “artificially inserted” with genes from the bacteria Erwinia uredovora and corn so it can produce beta carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A.

Peasants to Aquino: stop militarization, pass genuine agrarian reform

by
Oct 24, 2012

By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today

“Human sa tulo ka adlaw namong panagtigum sa mokabat 73 ka mga lider mag-uuma sa tibuok rehiyon nakita ang daghang kasong natala nga nakapasamot sa kalisud sa mga mag-uuma (After three days of gathering by 73 leaders from the region we found out a number of cases recorded that push farmers to severe poverty),” Arnado said during an interview with davaotoday.com.

Costly chemicals, agri inputs blamed in hunger incidence surge

by
Oct 17, 2012

By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today

Masipag said that when farming first became dependent on chemicals, synthetic and imported inputs that were institutionalized through the green revolution program in 1960s, the incidence of poverty and hunger steadily increased in the countryside, especially among the farmers.

Farmers did not benefit from GM corn, says advocacy group

by
Oct 12, 2012

By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today

“GM corn has completely changed the landscape of corn farming in the country, in a negative way,” Dr. Chito Medina, National Coordinator of farmers’ welfare advocacy group, Masipag (Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-ulad ng Agrikultura).

BT corn use to raise corn yield but farmers’ group wary

by
Oct 04, 2012

By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today

Pedro Arnado, chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Davao, said farmers have complained of low incomes and bankruptcy due to their failure to pay mounting debts from traders in business with multinational genetically-modified seed producers.

Farmers score gov’t for failed mediation

by
Sep 26, 2012

By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today

“Gibinu-angan lang mi sa gobyerno,  wala man diay para sa amoa (The government is not taking us seriously, nothing has been intended for us all along)” — Lilia Gicana, 54, CARP beneficiary

Cotabato advocates slam commercial production of Bt Talong

by
Sep 20, 2012

By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today

Bt Talong is a genetically-engineered eggplant that produces a toxin against a fruit and shoot borer (FSB). BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a soil bacterium whose genes are inserted to the eggplant to produce toxins against FSB.