Karnataka cotton growers facing crop failure due to Mahyco cotton seeds

The Karnataka government bans sale of Mahyco’s BT and hybrid seeds in the state as crops in seven of its districts failed due to the substandard quality of seeds supplied by Maharashtra-based seed Company causing huge losses to cotton growers.

The farmers who used Mahyco’s seed failed to yield good crop and filed a complaint to the Department of Agriculture. On conducting a survey, it was found that crops had failed owing to the substandard quality of seeds.

The department has issued a notification banning the sale of Mahyco BT and hybrid seeds with immediate effect in the state. The joint director of agriculture in Mysore has instructed the distributors and sellers not to market the company’s seeds and that legal action would be taken if anyone is found selling them.

Cotton is a leading commercial crop of Karnataka, which is generally grown in rain-dependent areas of the state. Growers had cultivated the crop using Mahyco’s MRC-7351 and Nikkiplus BT seeds and saplings on 139 hectares and 12,000 hectares, respectively.

It failed to give the expected yield, resulting in a huge losses to those who had cultivated the commercial crop, over which they mainly depend.