It’s grown by authorised farmers, from whom the company procures the potato under agreements, officials say. The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and other farmers’ groups expressed concern that PepsiCo’s decision last week to withdraw the cases against several farmers in Gujarat might hinge on a deal under which the state government would persuade farmers to accept restrictions on growing the potato. “When the law allows farmers to grow any variety of crop they want, why should the Gujarat government persuade farmers otherwise?” BKS president Vittalbhai Dudhatra said in a statement. Company representatives had met Gujarat government officials on Friday and called for an “amicable solution for everyone”, a PTI report said. Farmers’ rights activists had said that PepsiCo’s case against the Gujarat farmers marked the first time the 2001 act was being tested.

Source: The Telegraph May 05, 2019 21:45 UTC