PARLIAMENTARY HEARING ON THE GMO AMENDMENT BILL
17-19 JANUARY 2006
SUMMARY OF COMMENTS/CONCERNS
(not related to specific sections of the amendment Bill)


The government must commit itself to organic, indigenous seeds and crops and also sustainable agriculture.
What impact does the Bill have on emerging farmers.
To what extent does GMO’s lead to higher input cost which raises the cost of production to small-scale farmers. This could potentially push a lot emerging farmers out of agriculture which is a major source of livelihoods.
To what extent would GMO’s lead to further cycle of debt for farmers as demonstrated with case studies in KZN.
What are the potential impact of on biodiversity and sustainable development in SA (27)

The GMO amendment bill must protect small farmers like me against the big companies want to sell their products – seeds and fertilizers, but farmers take all the risks.
The GMO amendment bill must make certain that out household food security is not jeopardized.
The GMO amendment bill must protect our indigenous seeds and vegetation.
The government must provide education to farmers on the impacts of GMOs and not seed companies who want us to buy their products. Government must say why they are promoting GMO seeds and not our own seeds.
GMO companies must give assurances that heir will be markets to sell GMO products, that they will not cause health risks and damage to our soils and environment. When our farmers go to the cotton company to sell their cotton, they are told the price of cotton is down which results in debt and not being able to pay their input costs. But they are the same people who tell us to plant Bt Cotton (32).

The law does not give farmers specifically the right to save and replant GMO’s (28)