BJP Kisan Cell, scientists for compulsory registration of foreign seed companies

Express News Service

Posted: Apr 21, 2011 at 0212 hrs IST

Ahmedabad The BJP Kisan Cell as also agricultural scientists have said that the proposed Seeds Bill to be presented in the Monsoon Session of Parliament should incorporate provisions regarding mandatory registration of foreign seed companies in Indian territory if they are allowed to do business in the country.
At present, foreign seed companies operating in India are registered in foreign countries. The issue has become a point of debate as the Centre now plans to allow foreign companies to operate in India on a much larger scale.
Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, National Secretary General of Kisan Cell said the Bill is not acceptable in its present form unless the provisions for compulsory registration of the foreign seeds companies in India are incorporated. He had discussed the matter at length with state Agriculture Minister Dileep Sanghani on Tuesday.
Chudasama said it was necessary to have control and regulation over the companies in case of any sub-standard supply of seeds as also the arbitrary hike in prices beyond the paying capacity of farmers. He said the Centre needs to ensure three things: the compulsory registration of foreign seed companies; provisions for a fair compensation to farmers in case they did not get yield as promised by the seed suppliers; and thirdly stringent punishment for companies in case of substandard supply of seeds. The punishment should not be mere three months of imprisonment as the provisions exists now.
Chudasama said his party had given these suggestions to the UPA government and hoped the Centre would accept them. He said his party will strongly oppose the Bill in case these suggestions are not incorporated.
A R Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) said the state government had consulted him on the issue, and he had verbally advised the government to push for changes in the Bill with regard to registration of multi-national seed companies in India. This would ensure a quality standard of the seeds, reasonable prices, and adequate compensation to farmers in case of low yield or failure of crops due to poor standard of seeds.
Pathak and Anand Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor A M Sheikh said the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) or some agriculture universities could be authorised as agencies for registration because of their expertise in farm issues.

SOURCE: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/bjp-kisan-cell-scientists-for-compulsory-registration-of-foreign-seed-companies/779042/