LEGISLATION TO BRING ABOUT REFORMS IN THE
SEEDS SECTOR ON THE ANVIL
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF
AGRICULTURE MINISTRY MEETS
Amendments to the Seeds Act, 1966 and Seeds (Control
Order), 1983 are on the anvil to bring about reforms in the Seeds
Sector. The proposed legislation aims at establishment of National
Seeds Board (NSB), compulsory registration of seed varieties for
purpose of sale to granted by NSB and registration to be granted
for new varieties on the basis of multi-location trials over a
period of three seasons. The NSB will accredit ICAR Centres, State
Agriculture Universities and Private organizations to conduct
value for cultivation and use trials, registration of seed producers
and seed processing plants and regulating import and export of
seeds. This was disclosed by the Agriculture Minister Shri Ajit
Singh while addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee
attached to his ministry here today.
The Minister said under the proposed amendment,
import of seeds will be permitted only of registered varieties.
Any person who imports seeds or planting material will declare
whether such material is a product of transgenic materials, he
said. However, import of seed in limited quantity of unregistered
variety is to be permitted for research and trial.
Shri Ajit Singh said, the National Seeds Policy
has been formulated to provide a framework for ensuring growth
of the seeds sector in a liberalized economic environment. It
seeks to provide the Indian farmers with a wide range of superior
seed varieties/planting materials in adequate quantity in all
areas. He said, the policy addresses varietal development, maintenance
of quality assurance of seeds, efficient seed distribution and
marketing strategies, procedure of screening of transgenic varieties
for commercial exploitation etc.
On the use of fertilizers, Shri Ajit Singh said,
during the Tenth Five Year Plan Organic farming is proposed to
be given special thrust. He said, a National Project on Organic
Farming is proposed to be implemented for ensuring production,
promotion, and market development and quality regulation of organic
farming in the country. The Minister said, under this scheme,
a National Institute of Organic Farming will be set up with 7
sub-centres to undertake extensive promotion of organic farming
in the country. The Minister said, the setting up of compost plants
for conversion of municipal solid wastes into good quality manures
is being promoted now through financial assistance under Macro
Management Scheme.
Shri Ajit Singh said, the existing insecticides
Act, 1968 as well as rules framed under the Act are proposed to
be further amended to ensure proper quality control of pesticides
and to facilitate the industry. Keeping in view the harmful effects
of some pesticides, the pesticides are being reviewed regularly
by constituting different expert groups/committees. He informed
the members that so far 27 pesticides have been banned, the use
of 10 pesticides have been restricted and 18 pesticides have been
referred registration.
Referring to the drought situation the country
the Minister said late rains in August and September have brought
down the over all deficit to 17 percent. There have been major
recoveries in many states. Reservoir levels in 70 major reservoirs
have risen from barely 17 percent on 31st July to 51
percent as on 17th September. He said, large areas
remain unsown with Rajasthan topping the list with 52 percent,
40 percent in UP and 30 percent Haryana. He apprised the members
of the steps taken by the government. He said steps are being
taken to maximize cultivation during the ensuing Rabi season for
which preliminary prospects are encouraging, considering the September
rains.
Participating in the discussion, members expressed
their concern over the drought situation. They said in some places,
the price of foodgrains has started rising causing further hardship
to people. Members also suggested that long term programme should
be drawn up for regions regularly affected by drought. They alleged
that the guidelines issued by the Centre for implementation of
these programmes are not being followed at the local level and
the Members of Parliament are not being associated in implementation
of the programme. There was also a demand for immediate steps
for making lift irrigation points functional, wherever they are
lying idle.
Those who attended today’s meeting
are : Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Chunni Lal Bhau Thakur, Shri
Rattan Lal Kataria, Shri K.P. Singh Deo, Shri N. Janaradhana Reddy,
Shri Ram Murti Singh Verma, Shri Devendra Singh Yadav, Shri Parsuram
Majhi, Shri Mahboob Zahedi, Shri Ranen Barman, Shri Kalava Srinivasulu
(from Lok Sabha), Shri M.J. Varkey Mattathil, Shri V.V. Raghavan
and Shri G.K. Vasan (from Rajya Sabha).
