GM cotton has been introduced in South Africa as a technical solution to a myriad ofhistorical,geographical and economic issues.In itself it will not,and does not attempt,to reversethe centuries of oppression and xnarginalisation that have been suffered by the peoples of areassuch as Makhathini.Neither does it address the vast subsidy regime propping up cottonproduction elsewhere;since the turn of the century cotton farmers in the United States, forexample,have received over $27 billion in subsidies.Sma11 scale production in South Africa iscontingent upon the extension of credit,with all the inherent risks of further indebtedness thatbrings.Irrigation is a pre-requisite to any form of cultivation at all.One has to questions whether,in a water stressed country such as South Africa, where more than 98％ of current watersupplies already having been allocated,if this is really the most prudent use of this precious resource.