Indicted Monsanto be penalised for illegal practice: Farmers

New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) Welcoming the Director General of Investigation and Registeration (DGIR) verdict indicting the Mahyco-Monsanto for illegal monoplolistic practices, farmer unions and civil society organisations today urged the government that the Bt cotton seed company be made to compensate farmers who suffered losses due to crop failure and refund the excess price charged for the seeds.

Delivering its judgement, the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC), in a case filed by All India Kisan Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Ryotu Sangam, found the Mahyco-Monsanto developer of Bt cotton seeds of charging excessively high royalty fee for its Bt gene which made the seed exorbitant for famrers, leading to losses and exercise monopoly in absence of a competition from any seed company.

Demanding an action against the Mahyco-Monsanto, Yudhvir Singh from Coordination Council of Farmers Movement and Dr Suman Sahay of Gene Campaign said, ''because its exorbitantly priced Bt cotton was a failure, farmers had suffered heavy losses and already fragile farm economies took a beating.'' Supported by other NGOs like INSAF and PEACE, Yudhvir Singh and Dr Sahay said the landmark judgement of DGIR, a statutory body had established that the Mahyco-Mansanto produced Bt cotton through its sub-licencees and, therefore, it was in a position to fix a higher royalty fee in the absence of any competition. Thus, it imposed unjustified costs and restrictions on farmers.

In a joint statement, these organisations also demanded that Mahyco-Monsanto be barred from setting the rate of royalty arbitarily. Anticipating reverse DGIR judgement, the Mahyco-Monsanto has already slashed the royalty by 20 to 30 per cent.

UNI JSS YA ND1846