Maharashtra bans 15 seed companies permanently

25,000 farmers await compensation from firms that supplied soy seeds with very low germination rate
Maharashtra bans 15 seed companies permanently
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Fifteen seed companies have been banned from trading in any kind of seeds in Maharashtra on a permanent basis. This is a fallout of the investigation into last year’s large-scale soy seed germination failure in the state.  The order, issued on May 1, 2012, says that seven more companies are likely to face a similar ban. State agriculture commissioner Umakant Dangat informed Down To Earth that the ban has been imposed because the said companies failed to pay compensation to farmers despite orders from his department.

Many seed companies let off
 
  • Last year, 31,012 farmers registered complaints with the agriculture department, for germination failure
  • Seed failure on a total of 34,346 hectares (ha) spread over 146 tehsils in 25 districts in the state was reported
  • Agriculture department's investigation confirmed germination failure on 28,578 ha. “Seeds sold by some 70 to 80 companies were found to have low germination potential
  • While complaints have been registered against 113 companies, 38 were let off without action and without considering farmers' testimonies, say farmers' organisations
  • Out of the total of 193 seed samples which were found faulty, court cases have been filed in connection with just 119 samples
 
Firms can't trade even with changed names

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