PepsiCo Sues Poor Indian Farmers
A group of four farmers from Gujarat, face allegations from Pepsico, for illegally growing potatoes over which, Pepsico has a trademark.
PepsiCo has a trademark over potatoes, to be used only in Lays Chips. They filed a complaint against nine farmers for growing the same variety of potato, since 2018.
Recently, they have asked four farmers in Gujarat to pay a fine of Rs 1.5 crore each
These farmers have approached the government to intervene in this matter
PepsiCo has sued these poor farmers for violating their rights by growing the potato variety which is used in its Lays chips.
The farmers claim that the law allows them to grow and sell any variety of crop or even seed as long as they don’t sell branded seeds of registered varieties.
The farmers have asked the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) to represent them in court, and to fund the legal costs through the National Gene Fund.
T. K. Nagarathna, who is the PPV&FRA registrar, said that the case had been brought to the notice of the authority, and they were looking into it.
Farmers allege that PepsiCo had hired a private detective agency to act as buyers and take secret video recording, and collect samples from farmers’ fields without disclosing the real intent
When asked for their take on the issue, PepsiCo India spokesperson said that the issue is currently under court proceedings, and it was not right to comment on the issue.
This case will be heard in court today (26th April)
