The Hindu Business Line : AP Ordinance to check bio-pesticides soon

AIMED at effectively monitoring the mushrooming producers of bio-pesticides and fertilisers in the State in the backdrop of spurious pesticide cases recorded in the past, the State Government proposes to promulgate an Ordinance shortly.

Announcing this here on Monday, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, said the forthcoming Cabinet meeting would consider the Bio-pesticides and Fertilisers Bill and pass an Ordinance.

While detailing the achievements of his Government in the last one-year, the Minister said the Government was also expediting the process for the constitution of an `Agriculture Technology Mission' (ATM).

According to him, the ATM, with best experts available in the country under the supervision and guidance of Prof Swaminathan, would suggest the strategy for agricultural development including allied sectors.

The ATM would be set up shortly under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and would be a permanent mission, he said.

The Cabinet has approved new State Seed Regulation Bill to regulate production and sale of seeds and to provide for enhanced penalty to the dealers and suppliers and adequate compensation to the farmer. The Bill was already sent to the Union Government and was awaiting its approval. According to the Minister, the existing Seed Bill of Union Government was inadequate and the Bill proposed by the State was highly effective. The Minister said he would lead a delegation of farmers' union leaders to the Centre shortly to expedite the matter.

Meanwhile, aimed at increasing foundation seed production from 200 quintals to 5,000 quintals, the Government has decided to strengthen the 27 existing State Seed Farms by providing Rs 2 crore to improve the infrastructure.

Stating that the Seed Village Programme was organised during Rabi 2004-05 to ensure one-lakh quintals of certified seed in Kharif 2005, the Minister said the Government has already released Rs 4 crore as revolving fund for ensuring adequate seed stock for the ensuing Kharif.

"We have also decided to set up Seed and Fertiliser testing facilities at each district headquarters. Towards this, we have already released Rs 25 crore," Mr Raghuveera Reddy said.

As recommended by the Cabinet Sub-Committee, the Government had constituted a Commission under the chairmanship of Prof Jayati Ghosh to study the reasons for the farmers' distress in the State that resulted in increased number of suicides.

Of the 174 recommendations made by the committee, the Government has immediately accepted 114 suggestions that were completely under its purview.

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