Chhattisgarh farmers rally against agri MNCs

Farmers in Chhattisgarh are rallying against the multi-national seed companies planning to enter the state and threatened to launch a vehement protest against them.

The farmers' body in the state alleged that the state government was trying to pave way for the multinational seed companies to enter the rice bowl of the country. The agriculture department intends to use hybrid seeds to enhance the productivity. The department has invited proposals for the supply of hybrid seeds, but the terms mentioned in the proposals are as such that only multinational companies can fulfill it, director of Non Government Organisation (NGO) Agricon and agriculture scientist Sanket Thakur said.

The deputy agriculture director, RK Chandravanshi refused to comment stating that he would look into the matter first before reacting on the issue. He alleged that the agriculture department in nexus with the multinational companies was trying to promote the hybrid seeds in the state. "The entry of the multinational companies will be against the interests of the farmers as the state government does not have any control over such companies," Thakur added.

The farmers in Chhattisgarh believe that they are self-sufficient in terms of seed as more than 23,000 varieties of paddy are found in the state. These varieties suit the agro-climatic conditions. Instead of hybrid seeds, the state government should concentrate on irrigation and fertilizers, convenor of farmers' joint front Parasnath Sahu said.

According to him, the yield could be more than the use of hybrid seeds if the state government provided sufficient irrigation facility and good quality of fertilizers. The farmers across the state would launch a vehement protest against the multinational companies, Sahu added. The local farmers should be given an opportunity to develop seeds, he said, adding that the farmers dependent on monsoon can never think of using hybrid seeds.