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    PepsiCo takes back all cases against Gujarat farmers

    Synopsis

    The farmers involved said they have sought a token Rs 1 compensation from PepsiCo for defamation.

    pepsico_agenciesAgencies
    The submission made in the court to withdraw lawsuits against the farmers "is in sync with its publicly stated position," a PepsiCo spokesman said.
    AHMEDABAD: PepsiCo India on Friday “unconditionally” withdrew all its cases against potato farmers of Gujarat for alleged infringement of rights over a particular variety of the tuber.

    The farmers involved said they have sought a token Rs 1 compensation from the Indian arm of the US food and beverages giant PepsiCo for defamation and for being falsely dragged into a case alleging illegal use of a registered potato variety.

    Advocate Anand Yagnik, representing the farmers, said with this, PepsiCo’s multiple cases against 11 farmers of Deesa, Sabarkantha, Banaskantha and Aravalli for alleged use of its registered variety “stand withdrawn unconditionally".

    PepsiCo said, “After discussions with the government, the company has agreed to withdraw cases against farmers. We are relying on the said discussions to find a long-term and amicable resolution of all issues around seed protection. The company remains deeply committed to the thousands of farmers we work with across the country and towards ensuring adoption of best farming practices.”

    The company said its submission in court on Friday is in sync with its publicly stated position that “PepsiCo has been in India for 30 years. Over the years, the company has developed a best-in-class collaborative potato farming programme which has benefited thousands of farmers. The programme... has resulted in farmers getting access to higher yields, enhanced quality, training in best-in-class practices and better prices, all leading to improved livelihoods. To safeguard the larger interest of farmers, PepsiCo India was compelled to take judicial recourse to protect its registered variety. PepsiCo, from the very start, had also offered an amicable settlement to farmers."


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    ( Originally published on May 10, 2019 )
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