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Potato farmers cry foul as PepsiCo sues them
Just days after multi-billion dollar conglomerate PepsiCo sued four Gujarati farmers, asking them to pay ₹1.05 crore each as damages for 'infringing its rights' by growing the potato variety used in its Lays chips, farmers groups have launched a campaign calling for government intervention.
The case is coming up for hearing in an Ahmedabad court on Friday.
Warning that the case could set a precedent for other crops, farmers groups are pointing out that the law allows them to grow and sell any variety of crop or even seed as long as they don't sell branded seed of registered varieties.
The farmers want the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) to make a submission in court on their behalf and fund legal costs through the National Gene Fund.
When asked for a response, a PepsiCo India spokesperson said: "Given the issue is sub judice, it would not be proper to offer detailed comments."
T.K. Nagarathna, the PPV&FRA registrar who has jurisdiction for vegetable crops, said that the case had come to the notice of the Authority and it was looking into it. "We can take action based on the court order," she told The Hindu.
"These farmers are small, holding around 3-4 acres on an average, and had grown a potato crop from farm-saved seed after they accessed the potato seed locally in 2018," according to a letter sent to the PPV&FRA by farmers groups. They alleged that PepsiCo hired a private detective agency to pose as potential buyers and take secret video footage, and collect samples from farmers' fields without disclosing its real intent. PepsiCo then filed suit, the letter said. It added that at least nine farmers in three districts have been charged since 2018.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Bot on Saturday May 04 2019, @10:20PM (2 children)
> I agree, it's a cultural problem.
Given the etymology of culture, you can say that aloud.
I don't care about the technicalities. What we have here is a corporation suing for intellectual property, which is the whole point of GMO: Control.
Now they did retire the lawsuit? Does not matter. I am not going to let them pull those things with my money, so PepsiCo gets in my personal blacklist.
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(Score: 3, Insightful) by Arik on Tuesday May 07 2019, @04:15AM (1 child)
We need a real breakup of all these global corporations. If it's not possible to do business without approval of $x then more breakups are needed.
Pepsico? No worse than any other global megacorp that does business in China.
Go ahead, try to boycott them all, tomorrow. I'll be impressed if you make an honest 3 days.
If this was simply a matter them doing a better job for less money, I'd give them a standing applause and try to negotiate an honorable peace.
But it isn't. It has nothing whatsoever to do with any free market. It's the result of decades of corrupt policies favoring Chinese manufacturing (and Mexican labor.)
The stables need cleaned and the Potomac provides nowhere near sufficient water.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by Bot on Friday May 10 2019, @08:10AM
It's a good point but they boycott is a matter of principle only. I am convinced that boycotts are completely irrelevant, as the money printed by the bank is indistinguishable from the hard earned money of the little, and medium guys, and the money extorted with some unholy deals with politicians by the big guys.
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