The Hindu Business Line : AP Cabinet okays Draft Seeds Bill

THE State Cabinet has approved the Draft State Seeds Bill 2004, which will be sent to the Centre for its concurrence. The State Government wants to introduce the Bill in the winter session of the Legislative Assembly scheduled to commence in December.

The draft Bill provides for, among other things, payment of compensation to farmers by private seed companies, if the "registered kind or variety fails to provide expected agronomic performance." The bill also stipulates that seed manufacturers should compulsorily register their seed varieties.

The bill envisages stringent punitive measures to be taken against the erring companies. These measures include imposition of a fine ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, or imprisonment up to six months, or both fine and imprisonment, according to the State Minister for Agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy.

For the effective implementation of the proposed seed act, an Andhra Pradesh State Seeds Board will be constituted. The Agriculture Secretary will be the Chairperson of the proposed board, while the Commissioner of Agriculture will be Vice-Chairperson.

The board will also advice the State Government on matters relating to the legislation. It will set up committees at the district level that will settle the compensation claims of farmers.

The affected farmers will be paid compensation within 15 days, if the cases are settled at the district level, and within one month, if the case is referred to the State board.

The Agriculture Minister told newspersons that the State bill seeks to make certain amendments to the Central seeds bill that was awaiting Parliament approval. The Centre could accept the State bill as it was or incorporate some of its provisions into the new Central bill.

Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, the Information Minister, Mr Mohammed Ali Shabbir, said that the Cabinet had also discussed about the second round of talks with Naxalites. The Cabinet felt that Naxalites should lay down arms but it should not be a pre-condition for talks.

Nevertheless, the State Government will take up this issue with the Naxalite emissaries. The date of the second round of talks was not yet finalised.

More Stories on : Agricultural Policy | Seeds | Andhra Pradesh

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AP Cabinet okays Draft Seeds Bill