US-based food and beverages giant PepsiCo on Thursday said that it will withdraw lawsuits against farmers in Arvalli and Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. "After discussions with the government, the company has agreed to withdraw the cases against the farmers," said the spokesman. PepsiCo in April sued four farmers for cultivating a potato variety 'FC5' grown exclusively for its popular Lay's potato chips. Farmers organisations, who were fighting the lawsuits, claimed a moral victory but said that this is not enough. Nothing matters except whether the farmer has sold branded seeds or not, as far as farmers' rights are concerned.

Source: dna May 03, 2019 00:22 UTC