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TRS Govt will strike at spurious seed firms: Pocharam
Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas said that the State government would soon bring a new seeds act to prevent seed companies from selling spurious seeds.
Hyderabad: Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas said that the State government would soon bring a new seeds act to prevent seed companies from selling spurious seeds.
Responding to a short discussion on ‘Modernisation of Agriculture, Crop Loan Waiver, Payment of Input subsidy’, he said that the 'Telangana Farmers Redressal of Grievances' Bill, 2016 (for crop loss due to supply of defective seed) will be introduced in the Assembly in this regard.
He said that originally the Congress government in 2004 considered bringing in the Legislation, but the seed companies approached the Court to bring in stay orders. However, the State government with few modifications has decided to materialise this.
“The government is taking measures to deter the seed companies indulging in production and supply of spurious seeds,” he said.
While emphasising government's seriousness over the issue, he said that action against the company and its personnel who have resorted to supply of spurious seeds was taken in Khammam, Warangal, Nalgonda and Jogulamba Gadwal districts. He asserted that the government arranged compensation of Rs 1.57 crore to 2,556 farmers from the seed companies.
As part of crackdown 135 dealer licences and nine centralised seed licences have been cancelled, besides booking of 17 criminal cases. Apart from these, he informed that five company personnel have been jailed under PD Act, which he said was never witnessed in the State’s history.
On the issue of Minimum Support Price (MSP), Minister informed that the procurement centres are being made available with a view to ensure MSP for the produce of different crops.
Farmers can store their produce in the godowns till they get good price under Rythu Bandhu scheme and can avail 75 per cent of the cost of produce as interest free loans (up to 6 months) to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh.
“As of now, the godowns of 4 lakh metric tonnes capacity were available. There used to be no available space for the farmers to store their produce.
Telangana government having recognised the needs of farmers is establishing 17 LMT’s capacity godowns with Rs 1, 024 crore expenditure during two years. As a result, a total of 21.50 LMTs capacity godowns are going to be made available in the State,” he added.
