Seeds of Hope/Destruction

Describe your idea and concept of your work in relation to the festival outlines:

Hybrid rice seed was introduced in Bangladesh in late 90’s. Since then, it has incurred a lot of debates. Hybrid seed is exalted for its higher yield than the local varieties, but in the expense of environmental, economical and political impacts. Hybrid seeds are non-reproducible in a sense that seeds from previous harvest produce very poor yield precluding farmer to save seed from previous harvest. Hence, the farmers are forced to purchase commercial seed each time they cultivate. Small farmers struggling with extremely low market prices for their products cannot possibly afford to purchase expensive hybrid seeds year after year. Finally they succumb to the industry controlled by a handful of agrochemical companies. This shift of ownership proved to be devastating when the seed selling companies refused to pay any compensation for the crop failure caused by the seeds imported (or produced) by them. The situation has gotten worse when the government eliminated several crucial restrictions on importing hybrid seeds. Without proper testing those seeds got into the field and caused diseases, which in turn ruined farmers.

Moreover, hybrid seed has environmental impacts such as destruction of local varieties and threatening biodiversity, water pollution and soil degradation. By spreading the use of monocultures, hybrid seeds eliminated the use of thousands of varieties of rice. There were more than15,000 rice varieties at the beginning of twentieth century, whereas only 8,000 are available now in the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Hybrid seed usually requires a significant amount of fertilizers, pesticides and water. Heavy dependence on fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals caused widely documented environmental damages. Additionally, the increased dependence on irrigation has depleted aquifers. And all these effects, in turn, victimized the farmers economically.

This work portrays the hardships of the farmers as they produce rice. The story depicts their work throughout the whole process of rice production; from preparing land to collecting the harvest. It also focuses on the issue of research on hybrid seeds. The purpose is to show the relationship between the bioengineered seeds and the people directly affected by it. These poor farmers are absolutely defenseless against authorities’ cyclopean perception and commercial seed and chemical companies’ insatiable greed. This work aims to provide the government, NGOs, companies, researchers, activists, consumers and farmers a common platform for discussion through which sufferings of the farmers may be alleviated.

What kind of communication approach do you use?

Multimedia and/or photography

What are in your opinion concrete benefits to the society because of your communication?

Most people, especially the consumers have no idea the issues related to the food they are eating. There is a very little concern about GMO crop as well. Through my work I want to raise awareness towards such issues.

What did you personally learn from creating your submitted work?

Like other people, I had no idea what's going on in the food industry or what I was eating. During this work, I had to talk to researchers, activists, teachers, bio-engineers, photographers through which I got better understanding about hybrid and GMO seeds. I have watched documentaries, read articles, saw works of other photographers and came to learn about issues like food sovereignty, seed piracy, GMO crop, Golden Rice etc.

Why is your work, GOOD communication WORK?

It's more interactive in nature. The audio visual nature of my work may convey messages better than if only images or write-ups were used instead.

Where and how do you intent do implement your work?

Show it to researchers, law-makers, consumers and raise awareness about hybrid seeds and GMO crops.

Did your intervention had an effect on other Media. If yes, describe the effect? (Has other media reported on it- how? Were you able to change other media with your work- how?)

Have not published it yet.