The publication of Farmers’ Monthly for subsistence farmers in South Africa could be a blessing for rural economic upliftment and empowerment in South Africa (“Agricultural magazine to target rural farmers”, February 8).
In Guatemala and Honduras about 45 000 farmers have used low-cost regenerative agricultural technologies to triple maize yields to two to 2,5 tons a hectare and diversify their farms. This has led to local economic growth that has in turn encouraged emigration back from the cities.
In Africa Dr Hans Herren of Kenya has developed the organic “push pull” pest control method which controls stem borers in maize, suppresses the devastating weed Striga, fixates nitrogen (fertiliser) in the soil and increases yields 60% to 70%. The system is taking off well among subsistence farmers in East Africa. Unfortunately, says Herren, this method is being undermined by seed companies marketing genetically modified (GM) Bt insect resistant maize. GM seeds are patented and expensive and make farmers depend on costly chemical and fertiliser inputs from agri-chemical and seed companies.
The M&G report fails to mention that Farmers’ Monthly is sponsored by the giant transnational agri-chemical and GM seed company Monsanto, in partnership with the biotech industry’s media PR company NewswiseAfrica.
Will subsistence farmers be able to distinguish between biotech spin for corporate financial gain and advice disseminated in their best interests?
Is Farmers’ Monthly going to uplift 500 000 subsistence farmers in South Africa or be used as a marketing and propaganda tool? Andrew Taynton, Safe Food Coalition