Firm asked to pay farmer Rs 30,000 for poor quality seeds

Badade had purchased cauliflower seeds manufactured by Krishidhan Vegetable Seeds India private Limited for Rs 2,060. He sowed the seeds on June 23,2010 and replanted the saplings on July 20,2010. ‘Despite taking due care and watering the crop,the leaves dried up and the sapling failed to grow.

When Badade requested the owner of Mauli Krishi Bhandar to take a look at his crop,he denied and said that it was the responsibility of the manufacturer of the seeds — Krishidhan Private Limited. He then approached the taluka panchayat samiti and block development officer. On October 25,2010,the block development officer examined Badade’s farm and the dried crop along with four other officers including agro-experts.

The team in its assessment stated,“The cauliflower saplings were 90 days old,but 90 per cent of the crop failed to cultivate,while the rest had very small sizes of cauliflower that had started turning red. We conclude that the seeds were of inferior quality.”

Despite sending this report to Krishidhan Private Limited,they failed to respond. He then approached the additional Pune consumer forum on December 4,2010. He stated in the complaint that he was expecting at least seven tonnes harvest and the market price at that time was Rs 120 to Rs 130 per 10 kg.

Krishidhan Private Limited denied the allegation in court and cited a couple of earlier judgments,but the court refused to admit the citations as they were not suitable for this case.

Consumer court bench president Pranali Sawant and member Suchita Malawade ordered Krishidhan Private Limited and Krishibandhar to pay Badade Rs 30,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 as mental harassment and litigation cost.