'Mahyco Monsanto not entitled to collect royalty from farmers'

Mahyco Monsanto is not entitled to collect royalty from farmers for the cotton seeds supplied by it, a member of the National Cotton Seed Price Control Committee said today.
"Mahyco Monsanto had promised that the cotton seeds sold by them will prevent all worms but the seeds are not controlling the worms," P Sugunkar Rao told reporters here.
He said Mahyco Monsanto should not be allowed to collect royalty from farmers.
"If the royalty is not collected, the cost of the seeds will come down, which would ultimately benefit the farmers," Rao added.
Mahyco Monsanto is collecting royalty on BT2 seeds since 2007, said Rao, who is also the secretary of BJP Kisan Morcha.

He alleged that Monsanto has abused its monopoly on BT cotton technology and distorted the seed market by employing dubious methods, as established by the MRTP (Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices) Commission, which had issued an order in 2006.
Rao said the company continued with its practices even after the order and therefore the Centre had to refer the matter to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2015.
The Cotton Seed Price Control Order, 2015 would make cotton seeds affordable to farmers, he added.