226 pesthit cotton farmers to get ₹36.83lakh relief

MUMBAI: Two hundred and twenty-six farmers who had sustained losses because of the pest attack on cotton crops during the Kharif season in 2016-17 will get a compensation of ₹36.83 lakh from Rasi Seeds Private Limited after the Bombay high court (HC) ruled in favour of the state government.

The order is said to be important as it may give more leverage to the farmers who faced similar losses last year too.

The farmers had applied for the compensation under the Maharashtra Cotton Seeds (regulation of sale, supply, distribution and fixation of sale price) Act 2009.

The Director of Agriculture (Input and Quality Control) of Maharashtra had passed an order in June 2017, holding the company responsible for the use of RCH 659 BG-2 seeds. It had directed the company to compensate the losses.

The company moved the HC against the commissionerate’s order.

The HC upheld the state’s order four weeks ago and directed it to distribute the amount the farmers.

The Agriculture Commisionerate’s office the amount will be deposited in the farmers’ accounts after the due process.

Rajendran Ramasami, managing director, Rasi Seeds, said, “After the court order, there is no question of opposing the compensation. However, it should also be realised that our products had no defect. But, as a gesture of helping the farmers, the compensation will be paid.”

Rajan Kshirsagar, an agriculture expert from Marathwada said in 2016-17, few had applied for compensation due to lack of awareness on it.