From correspondents in India, 10:31 PM IST

The Kerala Agriculture University (KAU) Monday denied reports that it has entered into an agreement with Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Co (Mahyco) to provide it with the germplasm of indigenous rice varieties.

KAU director of research D. Alexander told IANS: 'Though the company has approached us for the germplasm, we did not provide it.'

Mahyco is a company associated with the multi-national agribusiness firm Monsanto.

A television channel in Kerala reported that the rice research station has entered into an agreement with the Mahyco to supply around 50 varieties of seeds conserved at its Regional Agriculture Research Station at Pattambi near here without the knowledge of the state government. The research centre conserves a large variety of indigenous rice varieties.

The report added that KAU has agreed to make its fields available to experiment the 'terminator seeds' developed from the germplasm provided by the university.

The state government has not yet reacted to the media report.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)