Complaint registered against 15 Bt cotton seed companies

Kariyappa, a farmer from Turakanadoni village in Raichur taluk, has filed a private complaint with the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Raichur, against 15 Bt cotton seed companies, with regard to crop loss caused by pink-bollworm pest this year.

The accused companies are Nuziveedu Seeds Private Limited, Kaveri Seeds Private Limited, Shriram Bioseed Genetics India Private Limited, JK Agri Genetics Private Limited, Spriha Bio Sciences Private Limited, Ganga Kaveri Seeds Private Limited, Pravardhan Seeds Private Limited, Rohini Seeds Private Limited, Bayer Crop Science Private Limited, Green Gold Agritech Private Limited, Ajeet Seeds Private Limited, Ankur Seeds Private Limited (Ranebennur), Ankur Seeds Private Limited (Nagpur), Monsanto India Limited and Ganesh Hajare Seeds.

Pamphlets

Pointing out that pamphlets containing claims made by Bt cotton seed companies that came with the seed packets clearly promised protection to crops from not only American, Spotted and Pink bollworms but also from Spodoptera and Semi-loopers, the complainant said that Bt cotton crop was completely destroyed by pink-bollworm, contrary to the claims made.

“The seed companies claimed that ‘…with this technology, the crop will be protected throughout its life period’, yet the crop was destroyed by pink-boll- worm pest,” the complainant said.

The complainant has claimed that Bt cotton crop worth between Rs. 400 crore and Rs. 500 crore has been destroyed in the pest attack in Raichur district. He has also brought to the notice of the court that no action was taken against the seed companies despite repeated requests, though Joint Director of the Agriculture Department has issued notices to them.

“Taking advantage of illiteracy and poverty of farmers, the seed companies knowingly sold the seeds that were of no use and cheated them. The government should book criminal cases against the companies and initiate an inquiry,” he said in the complaint on Tuesday. The complainant has sought an inquiry by Superintendent of Police, Raichur, into the issue.

Speaking to The Hindu , N. Shivashankar, advocate appearing for the complainant, said that the court is expected to direct the jurisdictional police to register an FIR and carry out investigation.

[Source:- The Hindu]