Reply #11: More on Sheep Mortality after grazing on Bt cotton [View All]

original-gmwatch

Mortality in Sheep Flocks after grazing on Bt Cotton fields
– Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh

Report of the Preliminary Assessment

April, 2006

Background

Over the years there is a steep decline in availability of grazing lands in Warangal district with increased cultivation of commercial crops. On secession of rainy season, usually the sheep and goat are allowed to graze on left over fields after harvesting of crops. This year several reports appeared in media on steep rise in sheep and goat deaths after grazing in Bt cotton fields in Warangal district. During 2005 similar reports appeared and complaints have been lodged with Joint Director Agriculture by few NGOs. No action has been taken.

This year again shepherds of Warangal district reported that there was high mortality in their flocks between February – March 2006, after grazing on harvested Bt cotton fields. Some shepherds reported this incidence to the animal husbandry department, and requested them to confirm whether the deaths in their flocks were due to grazing on Bt cotton fields. Based on the complaints a fact finding team has been constituted by AP Shepherds Union (Andhra Pradesh Gorrelu Mekhala Pempakam Darula Sangham). The team consisted of five members two from Anthra, an NGO working on livestock issues, a veterinary scientist, Dr. Ramesh and a field researcher, Mr. Apparao, along with Mr. Jamalaiah, Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Shepherds Union and two scientists from Centre for Sustainable Agriculture working on Bt cotton issues, Mr. S. Ramprasad, and Mr. G. Rajashekar. The team traveled in three mandals in Warangal district on 22 April, 2006 and met several shepherds and farmers.

The villages visited were Ippagudem (Station Ghanapur Mandal), Valeru, and Unkkucherla (Dharmasagaram mandal) and Maadipalli (Hasanparthi mandal).
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