Ban import of unregistered hybrid seeds, govt told

Following complains of no yields and contradictory views on Monsanto´s entry to Nepal, the Natural Resources and Means Committee of the parliament has directed the government to strictly enforce ban imposed on import of unregistered hybrid seeds and also regulate import and sale of hybrid seeds.
Nepal imports more than 200 types of hybrid seeds from 30 international seed production companies through 13 domestic importers. Although existing law bans import of seeds that are not registered with Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), substandard seeds have been finding way into the Nepali market, inflicting huge loss to the farmers.
The committee issued the instruction after holding discussion on a concept paper on enhancing traditional seeds -- referred as seed sovereignty - submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC).
In its decision, the committee has even instructed that Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) should conduct two years of field experiments before registering any hybrid seeds. “In order to enable NARC perform its duty efficiently, the government should immediately enhance it capacity by provisioning more human resources and additional capital,” the committee has said in a letter written to the MoAC.
The committee had conducted a detailed study on hybrid seeds and even grilled the MoAC officials in this connection the attempt of Monsanto -- a multinational agricultural company - to enter into Nepali market with its hybrid maize seeds through a program of United State Agency for International Development (USAID) in last September drew controversy.
Following series of interactions and demanding a clear concept paper from the MoAC on traditional and hybrid seeds, the committee issued a 7-point directive to the ministry.
Under this, the committee has also asked the ministry to study out the situations of agriculture and livestock quarantines in the country. “Prepare an action plan for upgrading and advancing their conditions and capacity,” the committee has said in its instruction.
The committee has asked the ministry to submit the action plan along with cost estimates for implementing them within 15 days.
Furthermore, the committee also lambasted the MoAC officials, saying that their attempt to allow entry of Monsanto hybrid seeds in Nepal by entering into an agreement with Monsanto and USAID was a foul play.
In this regard, the committee in January had grilled the senior ministry officials on government´s policy on hybrid and genetically modified organism (GMO).
“The Ministry should work to protect and promote locally produced hybrid seeds,” the committee has said. It has, however, maintained silence on the GMO, even though the ministry´s concept paper clearly states that import of GMOs should be banned.
The existing Agricultural Policy (2004) says that the government would strictly regulate the GMO and promote hybrid seeds.

Bribing for Monsanto

The hybrid seeds of maize from the American multinational company Monsanto have been distributing in Nepal with the help of some handful of people. There are several news in different local media that United State Agency for International Development (USAID) is lobbying for the entry of this particular company in Nepal.

The latest news has revealed that local contractors in Nepal are trying to push the seeds of Monsanto by bribing to the government officials in Nepal. This news has taken back to the 2009 when the Government of Nepal had to give money to the local farmers in the Terai region of Nepal when the seeds of Monsanto had cost the maize production hugely. The government had dispersed Rs 2 hundred million in the five districts of Terai region through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative (MoAC). 

This is How USAID Functions!

Monsanto Controversy

An official release of the United States Agency for International Development’s Nepal office posted on its official website on September 13  had an eye-catching headline-  "USAID teams with the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives and the Monsanto Company to enhance maize production in Nepal.” On November 18, USAID posted a status on its Facebook Page--almost opposite of its own version of the earlier release.  The three paragraph text says "No new programs have been entered into by the US Government with the Government of Nepal (GoN) to introduce hybrid maize seeds."

The days between the two postings amply demonstrates how things are done in Nepal, how much USAID cares about providing facts to the media and so on.

On September 13, USAID Nepal had organized a one-day workshop in the Hotel Himalaya which was inaugurated by  Agriculture & Cooperatives (MoAC) Umakant Jha. The USAID release that followed claimed that ‘secretary Jha appreciated the opportunity to work with USAID, particularly on this maize initiative.’ But, secretary Jha later publicly refuted it and said what was attributed to him was ‘baseless and completely wrong'.  "I was present in that workshop and there was a presentation on Monsanto,” Jha said, adding “I was just listening to the discussion but I have no idea about any partnership between MoAC and USAID to bring Monsanto in Nepal." Monsanto is an American multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation which is the leading producer of hybrid glyphosate and Genetically Engineered Seeds.

Soon after Jha’s rebuttal, USAID officials told me that they had no idea what Jha ‘s statement in the media was all about, ‘ but the government of Nepal and USAID are working together to bring Monsanto in Nepal to distribute hybrid maize seeds. Stuti Basnyat, communication officer in the USAID said, "I don't know what secretary Jha told you but we are working towards having an agreement among USAID, GoN and Monsanto."

While the first release mentioned Monsanto five times, but the update in the Facebook less than two months later omitted the name . It simply talks about promoting hybrid seeds.

The two releases and the period in between have fuelled enough controversy , and there has been no convincing clarification issued from any side  Neither the GoN nor the USAID  have tried to explain how hybrid seeds are different  from the traditional ones.  Dragged into the controversy, the USAID now insists that it will only respond to an email query.  On the Nepal government side, Jha has been transferred to the Ministry of Industry, and many read his going against USAID has cost him earlier job. But the Ministry of Agriculture even without Jha refuses to bail out USAID.

Elaborating the genesis of the controversy, Dr. Hari Dahal,  MoAC Spokesperson  said that ‘ one official from USAID had come to the ministry with Monsanto proposal to discuss, but no concrete decision was taken’ . He also challenged the USAID to publicize the documents or evidence, if any, to suggest a deal was in the offing ‘Ministry of Agriculture is not as techno-savvy as USAID is, ‘but facts speak for themselves,’ MOAC officials say.

The current controversy somehow discredits the USAID that has been working in Nepal for the last six decades with substantial support to many developmental projects, and contributed a lot towards Nepal’s journey to a modern and developing country. But like some other bilateral donor agencies, USAID spending money directly in the name of development (bypassing the government)  has of late is also becoming an issue in the country.

In its the Facebook posting,  USAID  claims that  the US mission remains committed development partner to the GoN. While this is true in many ways,  the word ‘commitment’ can not bypass the existing rules of the government.  The development agency that  dismisses its official press release through a posting in the face-book is not a practice that can be called responsible. The episode may perhaps provoke many donors to review their similar approach , and perhaps it is also the time for the UN Resident office to take cognizance of this.