Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | No agreement on price regulation and penalty clause in the Seeds Bill by Gargi Parsai

No agreement on price regulation and penalty clause in the Seeds Bill by Gargi Parsai

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jul 29, 2010   modified Modified on Jul 29, 2010


The government failed to reach an agreement with the Members of Parliament, who moved for amendments to the Seeds Bill on the issue of price regulation and penalty for failure of seeds in a meeting convened by the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar here on Wednesday.

On other amendments, the members either convinced the government or got convinced.

The government will now consult the Ministry of Law on the two issues, Mr Pawar told the members.

During the meeting, which lasted for over two hours, the members unanimously demanded setting up a regulatory mechanism on pricing of seeds and royalty on genetically modified seeds. Members were also united on the proposal of D. Raja (CPI) to remove the distinction between ‘minor' and ‘major' offences, and to raise the penalty for it.

A delegation of MPs from Andhra Pradesh, led by State Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, wanted the penalty clause to include fine with imprisonment.

The MPs were clear that the Bill should protect the interests of farmers and not of multi-national companies and big business houses. They demanded a price regulatory mechanism so that seeds were available to farmers at affordable prices and not left to “market forces.” The AP delegation gave the example of Bt cotton seeds that were introduced in the country at high prices and were lowered on orders of the State High Court.

Mr. Pawar informed the members that the appellate committee, proposed to be appointed by the Centre to look into grievances, shall be quasi-judicial in nature.

The meeting was attended by M.S. Swaminathan (nominated), D. Raja, M.Y. Myasura Reddy (TDP), Prabodh Panda (CPI) and MPs representing Andhra Pradesh. The members have moved more than 20 amendments to the Bill.

The Seeds Bill , 2004, was introduced in Rajya Sabha and referred to the Standing Committee. The panel, chaired by Ram Gopal Yadav, gave its recommendation in 2006, several of which were incorporated in the proposed Bill, particularly the section providing farmers to save, re-sow and exchange seeds. The provision asking farmers to go to the consumer courts for redressal regarding performances of seeds was struck down on the suggestion of the panel.


The Hindu, 29 July, 2010, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article539243.ece
 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close