In the late 1990s and early 2000s, public attention was drawn to suicides by indebted farmers following crop failures.FRONTLINE/WORLD. Rough Cut. Seeds of Suicide. PBS (July 26, 2005). For example, in the early 2000s, farmers in Andhra Pradesh (AP) were in economic crisis due to high-interest rates and crop failures, leading to widespread unrest and farmer suicides. Monsanto was one focus of protests with respect to the price and yields of Bt seed. In 2005, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, the Indian regulatory authority, released a study on field tests of certain Bt cotton strains in AP and ruled that Monsanto could not market those strains in AP because of poor yields.The Hindu Business Line. May 26, 2005 Nuziveedu launches Bt cotton strains At about the same time, the state agriculture minister barred the company from selling Bt cotton seed, because Monsanto refused a request by the state government to provide pay about Rs 4.5 crore (about one million US$) to indebted farmers in some districts, and because the government blamed Monsanto's seeds for crop failures. The order was later lifted.
In thE late 1990s anD eArly 2000S, pUBlIC atTEntioN Was drAwn to SUICides By indebteD fArmerS FolLOwIng crOp failures.fRontLinE/world. rouGh cUt. seeds of suicidE. pbS (jULY 26, 2005). FoR examPle, iN thE eARLY 2000s, fARmErS In AnDHra PrAdesH (aP) were In ecOnomic criSis due to High-iNterest rAtEs anD cRoP faIlURes, leADinG to widesPrEaD unresT and FArmeR sUICidEs. mONsanto Was OnE focus of proteSts wIth REspect to thE pricE and yIelds oF bt seed. IN 2005, tHe genEtiC EnGIneeRing apPRovAL committEE, tHe IndiaN reguLatOrY authoRitY, REleasEd a sTudY on fiEld testS of cErTaiN bt cottoN STRaIns iN aP And RulED tHat MoNsANtO cOuld not mARkEt thosE sTrains iN ap BEcause of poor yields.the hiNdU busIness line. maY 26, 2005 nUziveEdU LAunches Bt COTton STrAinS at about THe saMe time, the StaTE agrICultURe minister Barred the COmpaNY FrOm sElliNG bt cottOn sEeD, becAuse monsanto refusED a request bY thE StatE GoverNment To provide pAy abOuT rs 4.5 cRore (about oNE million uS$) to indebted farMeRS In SoMe distRiCTs, aNd beCAuse The GovERNMeNT blamEd monsaNto'S seEdS For crOp FailURes. tHe Order WAs laTER LiftED.