Farmers lose autonomy as MNCs take control of agriculture

 Agrobusiness/GM food, Civil society, Corporate agenda, Democracy, Development issues, Malaysian finance/business, Marginalised groups, Workers' rights  No Responses »
Dec 062007
 

Farmers are under increasing pressure from multinational corporations, which in many parts of the world are planning to take control over the entire food production and distribution chain. This leaves farmers at the mercy of these MNCs for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, sales and distribution. In the end, the farmers will lose their autonomy and independence and become integrated into the corporate system. It probably won’t be long before they are forced to accept genetically engineered crops – which could be introduced by stealth. In Malaysia, keep a sharp eye on what is happening with Sime Darby and agriculture in the Northern Corridor Economic Region. DEVELOPMENT: ‘MNCs Gaining Total Control Over Farming’ By Anil Netto PENANG, Dec 6 (IPS) – Food security campaigners are now more concerned than ever that farmers are turning dependent on large multinational corporations (MNCs) for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other inputs while also becoming more vulnerable [Read more]

NCER: Transforming agriculture – for whom?

 Agrobusiness/GM food, Corporate agenda, Development issues, Environment, Malaysian finance/business, Poverty, Workers' rights  2 Responses »
Sep 182007
 

On 30 July, the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) master-plan was launched with much fanfare. Among other goals, the blueprint aims to transform agriculture in the rice-bowl region of Malaysia.The masterplan was designed by Sime Darby although the project will be implemented by a regional coordinating authority, chaired by the Prime Minister. On the face of it, it all sounds great. After all, if we can increase our food production and be more self-sufficient, then we would achieve food security, right? But there are some underlying issues that have not been highlighted in the mainstream media. Sime Darby is not a disinterested party. It is eyeing the seed market and planning to produce patented “mother seed” for 10 popular crops, which it wants to sell, along with fertilisers, to contract farmers. Not only that, the firm will eventually buy the farmers’ produce, process it and market it via Tesco (in [Read more]

NCER: Who benefits more – Sime Darby or farmers?

 Agrobusiness/GM food, Corporate agenda, Development issues, Malaysian finance/business, Marginalised groups, Poverty  1 Response »
Jul 302007
 

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has launched the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) masterplan. The masterplan was designed by Sime Darby although the project will be implemented by a regional coordinating authority. But Sime Darby is not a disinterested party. It is eyeing the seed market and planning to produce patented “mother seed” for 10 popular crops, which it wants to sell, along with fertilisers, to the farmers. Not only that, it will buy the farmers’ produce, process it and market it via Tesco (in which Sime Darby has a 30 per cent stake). When I contacted Jeyakumar Devaraj for comment, he told me, “It boggles the imagination that the government has come to the stage of contracting out the planning for poverty alleviation to a corporation whose primary aim is to maximise profits for shareholders.” He said that smaller farmers could end up being pushed out or turned into agricultural [Read more]

A classic PR battle

 Agrobusiness/GM food, Development issues, Workers' rights  No Responses »
Mar 292007
 

You may not have noticed, but a classic PR battle is being waged between the agrichemical industry and anti-paraquat campaigners. Round One went to the anti-paraquat campaigners, when they succeeded in getting the Malaysian government to ban the dangerous pesticide. The industry lobby fought back in Round Two and, using the  immense resources at their disposal, succeeded in getting the ban “temporarily lifted” for “further study”. But the ‘umpire’ was far from neutral. Why did the government cave in to the industry lobby over the interests of pesticide sprayers, many of them women who are exposed to these hazadous substance? Well, that’s the million dollar question. Actually, lots of millions at stake. The use of pesticides ties in with the Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s emphasis on agrobusiness-driven agriculture, which focuses on lucrative cash crops. Such cash crops not only benefit large corporations but they invariably involve the extensive use of [Read more]

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