Sri C. Parthasarathi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and allied departments has said that the Government of Telangana is planning to have a new act to protect the farmers against crop loss due to defective seeds.
On Friday the Secretary has convened a high level committee meeting in his chambers at secretariat D-Block to draft the Telangana farmers Redressal of Grievances (for crop loss due to supply of defective seed) Act 2016. The secretary addressed that with the onset of Green Revolution the production and usage of the Hybrid seeds in many crops has increased. He said that the hybrid seeds are also available to the farmers in genetically modified form which is finally leading the farmer to depend on the seed producing companies for every season. He further said that the farmers are showing interest in hybrid seeds and leading the farmers in several problems like physical purity, genetic purity and other defects causing crop damage. He said that the menace caused by these spurious seeds distressing the farmers and in various instances the farmers are requesting for the Government for redressal. He said that the provision for redressal of the grievance of farmers in the event of supply of spurious / defective seeds by producers/ dealers in the AP cotton Seeds (Regulation of supply distribution, sale and fixation of sale price) Act 2007.
He stated that the Telangana Government has taken the issue of the farmers facing crop damage due to spurious / defective seeds and decided to have a Special Act in accordance with field problems. He instructed the concerned officials to finalise the act in three days by incorporating the suggestions of the members and pass on to the law department before submitting to the government. He said that the Act has created a provision to constitute State and District Committees to pursue the petitions of farmers facing crop damage due to spurious / defective seeds and also to define each term in the act. He also said that the unprocessed seed lots should contain physical identity details which will be permitted for movement between inter-states for genuine maintenance of the seed. He instructed the concerned officials to prepare draft Government order for nursery act.
The meeting was attended by M. Jagan Mohan, Commissioner, Agriculture Department, L. Venkat Ram Reddy, Commissioner, Department of Horticulture, Keshavulu, Director, Telangana Seed Certification Agency, Siva Ram, Legal Advisor, Agriculture University Scientists, and concerned officials.
