Promoting Hybrids: Who Gains and Who Loses
There are various kinds of hybrids. The most common are the intra-specific (cross within a species) and inter-specific (cross between different species) hybrids. However, the offspring of an inter-specific cross are very often sterile that prevents the movement of genes from one species to another. It happens due to the different chromosome number of parental species resulting into an extra chromosome in the offspring that disrupts meiosis, the process of forming viable sperms or eggs through cell division. The common examples are mules (crosses of female horse and male donkey), hinnies (crosses of male horse and female donkey).
Plants hybridize frequently without much work, so they are often created by humans to produce improved plants in terms of more production or quality improvement or winter or heat hardy, etc. Most of the hybrids produced so far are more disease resistant plants.
The hybrid varieties of crops, and breeds of animals developed in the 1970s and after, along with intensive management (feeds, antibiotics and probiotics, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and heavy farm equipments) practices, have contributed to many fold increase in the production per unit area especially in the developed and developing countries contributing to food security of the rapidly increasing population. This is named Green Revolution. However, over the time with the changed climate, hybrids and the entire green revolution technologies have degraded ecosystems and the environment, eroded crop and animal genetic diversity, made the soil dead (not suitable for farming), failed yields, and in the developing countries contributed to farmers committing suicides.
When green revolution agriculture (hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers, and heavy mechanics) is already proved to be unsustainable, farmers in countries like Nepal are compelled to use and get used to hybrids. It is highly proposed by the development organizations and easily accepted by our policy makers. But, it contradicts with the Agro-biodiversity Policy of Nepal that encourages the strategies to maintain agro-ecosystem balance, thereby enhancing plant and animal genetic diversity, and discourages the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The current discussion about the promotion of hybrid maize to the farmers of high production potential areas has drawn the attention of small farmers, civil society organizations and policy makers in Nepal. At the moment, a rational analysis of promoting hybrids developed by the Multi National Company (MNCs) like Monsanto is must. But, the reality is that it will have more negative implications for the Nepalese agrarian society in a number of ways.
Hybrids perform well only under intensive management in uniform microclimate, application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and appropriate harvesting and post harvest technologies. Intensive management increases the cost of production, and is sometimes unaffordable for our farmers. It also cannot withstand the different microclimatic conditions of Nepal-terai, midhill, and high mountain, which is more unpredictable because of climate change and the associated hazards such as drought, erratic rainfall, etc.
Given the economic situation of Nepalese farmers, with more than 70 per cent of the population living on less than US$ 2 a day, even being able to afford hybrid seeds (forget about management) is a tall task. Moreover, the hybrid seed production are out of the farmers’ contro,l and unlike open pollinated varieties, the seeds from hybrid varieties give off-type plants if grown the next time.
Furthermore, gradual dominance of hybrid varieties will increase the loss of local and open pollinated varieties of crops such as maize. It will increase the vulnerability of farming communities to deal with the impacts of climate change. Hybrids that demand more unnatural inputs that destroy our productive and diversity rich ecosystems. In Nepal, more than 90 per cent of the seeds are supplied through the informal system. It means farmer-to-farmer seed exchange are predominant in Nepal, which is contributing to maintain the crop and animal genetic diversity in Nepal. It is not only restricted to seed exchange, but strengthens other informal relationships that enhance social harmony, exchange and transfer of traditional and indigenous knowledge, knowledge and practices.
In addition, we have several cases of crop yield loss, because of the introduction of hybrid seeds.
The developed nations and their companies, which have realized the negative effects of such crops in their system, are now expanding their business to least-developed countries. They will certainly gain in terms of reputation (as support) as well as returns from the sale, but, we will certainly be the losers of our diversity, culture, informal relationship, our money and our dignity.
There are several cases of farmers being breeders of their varieties through participatory breeding approaches to increase their crops’ productivity and maintain biodiversity.
(Note: This article was published in The Himalayan Times Daily on 16-11-2011)
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Promoting+hybrids&NewsID=309505
Plants hybridize frequently without much work, so they are often created by humans to produce improved plants in terms of more production or quality improvement or winter or heat hardy, etc. Most of the hybrids produced so far are more disease resistant plants.
The hybrid varieties of crops, and breeds of animals developed in the 1970s and after, along with intensive management (feeds, antibiotics and probiotics, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and heavy farm equipments) practices, have contributed to many fold increase in the production per unit area especially in the developed and developing countries contributing to food security of the rapidly increasing population. This is named Green Revolution. However, over the time with the changed climate, hybrids and the entire green revolution technologies have degraded ecosystems and the environment, eroded crop and animal genetic diversity, made the soil dead (not suitable for farming), failed yields, and in the developing countries contributed to farmers committing suicides.
When green revolution agriculture (hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers, and heavy mechanics) is already proved to be unsustainable, farmers in countries like Nepal are compelled to use and get used to hybrids. It is highly proposed by the development organizations and easily accepted by our policy makers. But, it contradicts with the Agro-biodiversity Policy of Nepal that encourages the strategies to maintain agro-ecosystem balance, thereby enhancing plant and animal genetic diversity, and discourages the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The current discussion about the promotion of hybrid maize to the farmers of high production potential areas has drawn the attention of small farmers, civil society organizations and policy makers in Nepal. At the moment, a rational analysis of promoting hybrids developed by the Multi National Company (MNCs) like Monsanto is must. But, the reality is that it will have more negative implications for the Nepalese agrarian society in a number of ways.
Hybrids perform well only under intensive management in uniform microclimate, application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and appropriate harvesting and post harvest technologies. Intensive management increases the cost of production, and is sometimes unaffordable for our farmers. It also cannot withstand the different microclimatic conditions of Nepal-terai, midhill, and high mountain, which is more unpredictable because of climate change and the associated hazards such as drought, erratic rainfall, etc.
Given the economic situation of Nepalese farmers, with more than 70 per cent of the population living on less than US$ 2 a day, even being able to afford hybrid seeds (forget about management) is a tall task. Moreover, the hybrid seed production are out of the farmers’ contro,l and unlike open pollinated varieties, the seeds from hybrid varieties give off-type plants if grown the next time.
Furthermore, gradual dominance of hybrid varieties will increase the loss of local and open pollinated varieties of crops such as maize. It will increase the vulnerability of farming communities to deal with the impacts of climate change. Hybrids that demand more unnatural inputs that destroy our productive and diversity rich ecosystems. In Nepal, more than 90 per cent of the seeds are supplied through the informal system. It means farmer-to-farmer seed exchange are predominant in Nepal, which is contributing to maintain the crop and animal genetic diversity in Nepal. It is not only restricted to seed exchange, but strengthens other informal relationships that enhance social harmony, exchange and transfer of traditional and indigenous knowledge, knowledge and practices.
In addition, we have several cases of crop yield loss, because of the introduction of hybrid seeds.
The developed nations and their companies, which have realized the negative effects of such crops in their system, are now expanding their business to least-developed countries. They will certainly gain in terms of reputation (as support) as well as returns from the sale, but, we will certainly be the losers of our diversity, culture, informal relationship, our money and our dignity.
There are several cases of farmers being breeders of their varieties through participatory breeding approaches to increase their crops’ productivity and maintain biodiversity.
(Note: This article was published in The Himalayan Times Daily on 16-11-2011)
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Promoting+hybrids&NewsID=309505
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