“Seed Week,” a demonstration in Asunción held by farming, social, and indigenous rights groups began today in protest of the likely commercial release of five varieties of genetically modified (GM) corn seeds. The protesters advocate the alternative use of native varieties and agricultural diversity as essential to the nation’s food security and sovereignty.

Protests reportedly began with about 70 people marching through Asunción’s downtown area before being stopped by police. There have been no reports of violence or arrests so far.

President Federico Franco’s government is widely expected to finalise the authorisation of GM seeds this week. “It is my understanding that, with much certainty, [they will approve the release of these five corn varieties] next week,” said Santiago Bertoni, an agricultural engineer from National Commission on Biosecurity (Combio), told Reuters. Nevertheless, details of exactly when Combio and the Health Ministry will finalise the approval process have to yet to be announced.

The varieties in question include: VT Triple Pro, NK 603, MON810, BT11, and TC1507, three of which belong to the transnational agricultural company, Monsanto. A demonstration that will directly target the US-based agriculture giant is expected to be one of the most notable activities of “Seed Week.” Monsanto is the subject of protests based in over 60 different cities worldwide taking place this week citing concern for the environment and human health.

According to Combio, the authorisation of genetically modified corn will increase Paraguay’s agricultural yield from the 876,000 hectares of crops sowed during the 2012 agricultural cycle to one million. In the beginning of August, National Health Department head Antonio Arbor approved the use of one type of genetically modified corn in question.

Paraguay already allows genetically modified soy and cotton production. The production of genetically modified cotton was approved earlier this year and still attracts much controversy.

Story courtesy of Agencia PĂşlsar (link to http://www.agenciapulsar.org/), the AMARC-ALC news agency.

Over the past two months, the La Niña weather pattern has caused a prolonged drought in Argentina, as well as Paraguay and Brazil, which is estimated to yield ten million metric tonnes less of corn crops than previously estimated, and four million less of soybean crops. If rains do not pick up, the damage is predicted to be irreversible.

“The situation is disastrous and the loss is enormous” Martin Fraguio of Maizar, an Argentine corn farming group, told Business Week.

The soybeans are in “intensive care” added Miguel Calvo, head of Argentine soybean association Acsoja.

Farmers’ representative groups are blaming President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s policies for their insufficient protection in such circumstances. The president has been criticised for her lack of financial help – refusing requests for increasing the state security fund in the case of drought, and refusing an overview to relax the tax burden for farmers.

Temperatures are forecast to remain around 35 degrees Celsius throughout January, with the Buenos Aires province set to have “scarce or no rain,” according to the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange.