If the third world farmers had to pay for seed rather than re-sow their own, how shafted would they be now?

Question

It seems obvious that poor people should aim to be self-sufficient. World markets are not stable and it is always the poor who get crushed.

Does anyone really think poor farmers should stop using their own local crops, and buy in from the global seed companies?

Answer 1

You seem to be confusing your points. Take a deep breath and try again to make one single argument not mix two or three together-my guess is you never made the debating team.

Answer 2

there is nothign stopping farmers from using their own seeds, unless they are using GM varities where the patent owners insist on new seeds every year fromt eh manufacturer.

so Im guessing you've picked up someone rebutting the arguments of pro GM crops as a mechanism of improving yields in Africa and other areas with subsistence farming.

Answer 3

Most poor people are at the mercy of their oppressive governments (why do you think they are poor ?) ... Food (and food production) is controlled (subsidised or not) for political reasons  (see EU Common Agricultural Policy) and the use of one or another type of seed or crop is dictated by the (EU :-) ) 'Commissioners' (and what is available locally ..)

Thus, the choices farmers make the world over will be controlled by others ... and what we in the West "think" about it is totally irrelevant .. (and any action we take in support of our 'beliefs' may even be counter-productive .. example - send free food = bankrupt the local farmers & prop up the totalitarian regime (North Korea & Bengal))

I gave up trying to "Solve the World's Problems" a long time ago (about when I had to start paying for the roof over my head and the food on the table out of my own pocket). Now I focus on solving my own problems (& those of my family and neighbours) :-)

Answer 4

Those from the third world have no choice if they want to enjoy the better quality goods and services produced by the world markets. There is always a price to pay for better quality goods or services. Or to get a degree you need to pay money and work hard to study in a university.