HYDERABAD: While finding fault with the state agriculture department for failing to protect cotton farmers from the clutches of unscrupulous seed companies, the Hyderabad High court directed the Mahyco seeds company to pay Rs 47 lakh as compensation to 97 farmers of Ranga Reddy district who suffered heavy losses on account of alleged spurious seeds supplied by the company.
Justice T Sunil Chowdary granted this order in a petition filed by J Sriranga Rao of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and four others complaining about the inaction of the state agriculture department in making the company to pay the compensation to cotton farmers as ordered by its district level comittee.
Petitioners' counsel B Rachna Reddy brought to the notice of the court the plight of the cotton farmers in Ranga Reddy district who had sown two varieties of Mahyco's cotton seeds known as MRC 7383 and Passion BG-II seeds and had suffered losses due to crop failure.
The counsel submitted that following the complaints of crop failure, the state agriculture wing’s district level committee visited the farms. It was noticed in the survey that the faulty seeds were the principal reason for crop failure. Though the committee had ordered the company to pay Rs 47 lakh to 97 farmers, it was not paid.
Referring to the representations of the farmers seeking payment of compensation ordered by the district level committee, the judge directed the authorities to take steps ensuring that the affected farmers get their compensation from the company within a month.