India, Monsanto Clash Over Bt Seed

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|26 April 2006

Andhra Pradesh is pressing the company for compensation to be paid to farmers following a crop failure that has been blamed on low quality seed. While Mahyco Monsanto has stated that it is willing to compensate farmers for crop loss, the Andhra Pradesh government is reporting that no proposals have been submitted to it from the company.

The state government banned Monsanto’s Mech-162 and Mech-184 varieties of Bt cottonseed following the crop failure experienced during the kharif season last year. The government has also threatened to cancel the license of Mahyco Monsanto if the company refused to compensate farmers for poor quality seeds. Monsanto has approached the High Court of India to challenge the government’s decision.