Mahyco denies sourcing rice seeds from KAU

New Delhi, Oct 19: The Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco) has said that as a company engaged in research to help farmers meet the challenge of sustainable agriculture using less land, water and pesticides, its research centre works closely with universities and agriculture research institutions for exchange of germplasm, hybrid lines and other material legally. When questioned about the ongoing row over Mahyco sourcing germplasm of indigenous rice varieties from the Kerala Agriculture University's research station at Pattambi, the company's general manager, Mahendra K Sharma said, "It is incorrect to say that Mahyco has taken 50 lines this year from the Kerala Agriculture University (KAU) under a material transfer agreement (MTA).

He, however, said that it was a common practice for universities and other institutions to provide germplasm and hybrid lines to private and public sector research groups under clearly defined terms and conditions, including public-private partnership or initiatives. These were used by breeders to develop high yielding/better varieties by traditional breeding tools like hybridization and selection. Among the institutions Mahyco partners with are Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad.

Mahyco is a partner of the US-based seed multinational Monsanto and is responsible for introducing Bt cotton in India. Mahyco has also developed several other GM crops, which are under field trials. The case of charging high technology fees for Bt technology is subjudiced before the Monopoly and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission. Several civil society organisations and farmers' groups are critical of seed companies sourcing germplasm from public sector gene banks and developing and "monopolising" the seeds.