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Our Bureau

Hyderabad , June 3

THE State Government announced a comprehensive State Seed Policy for 2005-06 here on Friday, involving a total outlay of Rs 109.54 crore in the form of subsidies and incentives.

Addressing the media, the State Agriculture Minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, said the policy was aimed at achieving four goals. They include increasing the seed replacement ratio by 5 per cent every year, increasing the supply ratio of certified seed and hybrid seed and minimising dependency on truthfully labelled seed.

The policy is also aimed at empowering farmers in quality seed production technology and ensuring checks over flow of spurious and substandard seeds in the market, the Minister said.

The State Government has estimated that 38.76-lakh quintals of seed would be required during the current kharif season. It has already readied 13.45 lakh quintals of different crop seeds to be supplied.

To improve the seed chain in the State, the Government has decided to revive 27 State seed farms and 2,200 seed villages.

Agricultural University, National Seed Corporation, AP State Seed Development Corporation, AP Oil Federation and AP State Seed Certifying Agency will be involved in the process. The idea is to supply 26,500 quintals of foundation seed through these 27 seed farms and 7.45 lakh quintals of certified seed from 2,200 seed villages during the year.

According to the Minister, the Government has also decided to encourage farmers to go in for crop diversification.

While targeting 25 lakh acres for crop diversification during the year, the Government has taken steps to attain 15 lakh acres of crop diversification during the kharif season itself.

Cotton, paddy, chilli, tobacco and groundnut will be diversified to maize, jowar, bajra, ragi, red gram, green gram, black gram, soyabean, sesamum, sunflower and castor.

To encourage farmers towards crop diversification, the Government will offer a subsidy of Rs 700 per quintal for soyabean, Rs 600 per quintal for castor and 33.33 per cent seeds subsidy for all other diversified crops.

The Government has earmarked Rs 20 crore towards promoting crop diversification.

The Minister said the Government has also decided to increase the State incentive to promote certain crops over and above the minimum support price. It will offer Rs 25 per quintal for jowar, bajra and ragi, Rs 100 per quintal for red gram. An amount of Rs 20 crore is earmarked for this initiative.

To encourage oilseeds cultivation, the State Government has decided to offer groundnut seeds at a subsidised price of Rs 16.50 per kg for TMV-2 variety, Rs 17.50 per kg for JL-24 and Rs 17 per kg for the Polachi variety. To distribute 4 lakh quintals of groundnut seed, the Government has earmarked Rs 32 crore, the Minister said.

To ensure effective seed quality regulation in the State, the Government has decided to train seed inspectors and seed analysts. It will supply 1,435 seed inspectors kits for detecting violations of seed producers and initiate action against them. Farmers in seven districts will be supplied 1,121 Bt express kits to identify spurious Bt cotton seeds.

Apart from strengthening seed testing labs across the country, the Government has also decided to set up 19 new seed testing laboratories at Rs 1.65 crore.

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