Row as farmers, activists differ on Monsanto ‘victory’ on GM tech

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 10

A day after the Supreme Court “restored” Monsanto’s (now Bayer Monsanto) BT cotton patent in India until its validity is decided by the Delhi High Court, dispute raged.

The corporate world read it as a “victory” for the seed major, “which would encourage biotechnology firms to step up investment in the country”. Farmers’ organisation, the Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA), appreciated the SC “upholding intellectual property right” and questioned the intentions of those opposing the technology.

Meanwhile, activists said the order had been “misread” and they would continue to wage a war against the GM technology in India.

Anti-GM activist Kavita Kurugnanti said: “The victory claim is incorrect. We will raise our concerns around farmer livelihoods and objections to patents on genetic material in the Delhi HC.”

RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) said the patent had not been restored, only the order given by the HC cancelled. “The SC ruling is not in favour of anyone and the case is open. What is being claimed as victory of farmers is not a victory,” said SJM’s Ashwani Mahajan.

“The SC has just said Monsanto be heard about the cancellation of the patent. The Patents Amendment Act, 2005, says seeds, lives and animals cannot be patented. Monsanto claimed that chemical is being inserted into the seed, which is factually incorrect. The Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right Act, 2001, also says farmers’ rights have to be protected. They (Monsanto) cannot get the patent. If there are any lacunae in the law, the government should take care of that,” Mahajan told The Tribune.