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Hybrid seeds Hybrid seeds are the result of cross-pollination (or genetic engineering, discussed separately on this website), carried out for specific purposes, usually higher production, resistance to specific plant diseases or for a specific attribute such as shape or colour. Hybrid crops are also more input-demanding, whether for water or nutrients; have specific requirements which need to be met in order for the plant to 'perform'; are not as healthy or hardy; are often highly pest- and disease-prone; and importantly cannot produce seeds that are true to the parent plant, or may even produce sterile seeds. In other words, farmers have to buy their seeds each season. In all these respects, indigenous or traditional seeds score over hybrids. While most hybrid plants do ensure a higher production to begin with, this is also accompanied by higher costs of cultivation, starting with the high cost of seed and including higher doses of inputs like fertilisers, pesticides and water. The effect of regular hybrid crop cultivation is felt by the soil and results in ever-increasing doses of chemical inputs as the soil health keeps falling. The use of hybrid seeds is therefore a major part of the "chemical-agriculture problem". To know more about hybrid seeds and their negative impact on agriculture systems, you may follow this link : http://www.btinternet.com/~bury_rd/heritage.htm Pages on this website relevant to seeds, genetic materials and related issues : Indian farmers rediscover advantages of traditional rice varieties Genetically modified seeds and other organisms Global centres of biodiversity You may also like to read on this website : Hunger, and why technology cannot feed the world Traditional agriculture in India : high yields, no waste Natural farming succeeds in Indian village Myths and fallacies about organic farming Techniques and practices in organic farming On the effects of chemical farming : 18 ways how "modern" farming affects our world Pesticides in your food (and water) For general information on organic farming, click here For information on other issues related to organic farming, click here To order satavic.org on CD, click here Copyright © 1999-2008 by Satavic Farms. All rights reserved. Disclaimer |
