Telangana’s Mulugu reels from GM maize failure: 700 farmers suffer losses; seed firms told to compensate
Around 700 farmers in Mulugu, Telangana, will receive compensation for crop losses caused by failed GM maize seeds. Following a detailed assessment, authorities directed four seed firms to pay ₹15,000 base compensation and ₹40,000–₹85,000 per acre based on damage. The action, prompted by farmer protests and widespread crop failure across 2,000 acres, marks a rare enforcement move.
HYDERABAD: Around 700 farmers in Mulugu who suffered massive crop losses due to failed genetically modified (GM) maize seeds will receive compensation, following a damage assessment by the agriculture department. In a rare move, officials have directed the seed companies to pay up. District and agriculture authorities recorded statements from 700 affected farmers to document crop damage and trace direct links to the seed companies. “This documentation is critical to legally establish the farmer-company relationship and the extent of damage,” said an official involved in the assessment.
Towards holding the seed companies accountable for crop failures, the agriculture department and the Mulugu district administration have completed a comprehensive damage assessment and instructed the companies to compensate the farmers. The compensation package has been tiered into three categories based on yield loss. Each farmer will receive a base compensation of ₹15,000, with an additional amount ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹85,000 per acre, depending on the scale of damage.Four seed firms identified in the probe have been instructed to disburse compensation. According to sources, all four companies have expressed willingness to comply. The crisis unfolded a few months ago when hundreds of farmers across Wajedu, Venkatapuram, Kannaigudem, and Tadwai mandals in Mulugu district reported alarmingly low yields despite using GM maize seeds. These farmers, engaged in contract farming for seed production, suffered losses across 2,000 acres. The gap between promised and actual results triggered widespread protests, with farmers demanding action and compensation.
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Source : The Times Of India
