-The Hindu Decision after assurances from govt. on long-term solution In a victory for Gujarat potato farmers dragged to court by PepsiCo for alleged Rights infringement, the food and beverages giant says it has agreed to withdraw the cases. “After discussions with the Government, the Company has agreed to withdraw cases against farmers. We are relying on the said discussions to find a long term and an amicable resolution of all issues around...

-The Indian Express Who is the rightful owner of the potato variety, FL 2027? Is it the farmer who bought, planted, harvested the potatoes from his own farm, or is it the innovator who cross-bred and modified the potato to have a low moisture content for crispier chips? There could not have been a better heading for the IE editorial (April 30) on PepsiCo’s infringement suit against the farmers who have...

-DNAIndia.com The infringement suit filed by PepsiCo against Gujarat’s potato farmers is based on legally flawed premises The infringement suit filed by PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd (PIH), Indian subsidiary of the US multinational corporation, against potato farmers in Gujarat is premised on an untenable interpretation of law on plant breeders in the country.  Yet, on the basis of a claim of an infringement of its potato variety by the accused farmers,...

-Economic and Political Weekly The onslaught on the Rights of women, both as economic agents and as citizens, is based on the interlocking of macroeconomic policies with prevailing patriarchal structures, the foundations of which need to be unravelled, visibilised, and visualised with the primary purpose of combatting the ongoing process of gendered de-equalisation. It is in this context that the concept of “feminist finance” is articulated, especially in relation to the...

-The Hindu Congress’ Ahmed Patel says Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority should have intervened With protests coming from all ends of the political spectrum, the Gujarat government has decided to back four potato farmers in their fight against PepsiCo’s Rs. 4.2 crore lawsuit against them for allegedly infringing its Rights by growing the potato used in Lays chips. State will join A senior official told The Hindu that the State government...