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Pests attack genetically modified cotton

June 29, 2001 10:04am


BC-PESTS-ATTACK, sked,0499 

Pests attack genetically modified cotton, JAKARTA POST 

xfdws PESTS-ATTACK sked Emerging Markets Datafile 

June 29, 2001 

JAKARTA POST 

INDONESIA 

ENGLISH 

Pests attack genetically modified cotton, JAKARTA POST 

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Hundreds of hectares of the genetically 
modified cotton fields at three villages in the regency of Bulukumba, South 
Sulawesi, have been destroyed by pests identified as Helicoverpa armigera and 
Spodoptera. 

However, officials dealing with the genetically modified cotton business said 
separately that there was nothing to worry about. 

Tri Soekirman, Corp. Communications manager of Monsanto, the supplier of the 
genetically modified cotton from South Africa, said here on Thursday that the 
pests were not dangerous. 

They are just larva which eat the leaves, but will not disrupt cotton 
production, Tri told The Jakarta Post. 

He said that based on a survey made by his team, the population of the pests 
wbs still tolerable. Therefore, pesticide is not necessary to eliminate them. 
The farmers know how to handle them. 

On Wednesday in Bulukumba, the leader of the genetically modified cotton 
monitoring team, Ibrahim Manwa, voiced similar optimism that the pest 
population is still at tolerable levels. 

He said 40 trees had been taken as samples from Balleanging village in 
Bulukumba. Out of the 40 trees, less than seven were attacked by the pests. 
This means that the population of the pests is still very low, he said, 
showing dried cotton leaves which had been destroyed by Spodoptera. 

Ibrahim was in Bulukumba with the deputy head of the South Sulawesi 
Agriculture Office, Karya. 

The controversy over genetically modified cotton started in early May this 
year when a total of 40 tons of Bollgard cotton seed belonging to U.S.-based 
Monsanto was imported by Jakarta-based PT Monagro Kimia. 

A number of activists have said that genetically modified products must be 
prohibited from directly entering the province, and demanded that such seeds 
be quarantined for detailed examination before being distributed to the 
farmers. 

It was Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih who recommended the 
importation of the seed and its distribution to seven regencies in South 
Sulawesi. 

State Minister for the Environment Sonny Keraf criticized the decision. 

In Bulukumba regency alone, the genetically modified cotton was planted on a 
total of 1,571.75 hectares, managed by 80 farmers' groups consisting of 2,003 
families. 

At least 180 hectares of the cotton fields in the village of Balleanging, 
Ujungloe district, have been invaded by the pests. 

Local farmers said that the pests started attacking the cotton in mid-June. 

Many farmers have complained about the pests. They said the supplier had 
claimed that the cotton variety was resistant to all kinds of pests. CJAKARTA 
POST