The state government is working towards out-of-court settlement of cases filed by PepsiCo against nine farmers for growing a variety of potato patented by it, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said on Wednesday. The MNC has claimed the variety in question has been "registered" by it. Meanwhile, farmer organisations have threatened an agitation over the issue and also a boycott of PepsiCo products. Farmer rights activists have claimed the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right (PPVFR) Act, 2001, which has been invoked by PepsiCo in the lawsuits, has a section that protects agriculturists in such cases. Over 190 activists had recently come out in support of the farmers facing lawsuits and requested the union government to ask PepsiCo India to withdraw its cases against them.

Source: dna May 02, 2019 00:56 UTC