Following Andhra Pradesh's legal tangle with the Bt cotton seeds maker Monsanto, the Gujarat Government is all set to lock horns with the latter for purportly selling costly cotton seeds to its farmers way above the normal prices.
Gujarat is top cotton producer State in the country and it is learnt from reliable sources that it is contemplating legal action against the reputed mutlinational company.
Countering the Government's claims, the media reported company officials raising the distribution of illegal seeds issue carried out within the state that breeched company's intellectual property rights.
It was learnt that offiicals of the State Agriculture Department will meet next week to ponder over the Bt cotton seeds prices.
Rejoining the Andhra government issue on the high royalty of around Rs 1,200 which is being charged by the company, the Gujarat State Agriculture Minister Bhupendra Chudasama informed that Monsantos sold seeds at an abnormally high price of about Rs 1,600 to State farmers.
Currently, Hugh Grant, Monsanto's Chief Executive Officer is on an official visit throughout the country.
Company officials have disclunted the visit of Grant having no connection with the pricing controversy that was raging all over the country.
Ranjana Smetacek, Director, Corporate Affairs at Monsanto India stated that the high official visit had no connection with the petitionfiled by the Andhra Pradesh Government and the visit was basically meant to understand the country and its agriculture system.
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