The Hindu Business Line : AP: Draft seeds Act being prepared

THERE is a need to increase productivity of crops and bring down cultivation costs in the country in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime, Mr V. Sobhanadreeswara Rao, Minister for Agriculture, has said.

The Minister who took part in the Andhra Pradesh Seedsmen Association's annual meeting on "Elimination of child labour in seed industry", said there was lot of pressure on India for the withdrawal of subsidies in agriculture while the same were extended to farmers in the West, especially the US where $ 75 billion was being made available to them.

He said the market cess issue which proved to be an irritant to the association members would be resolved soon.

Mr M. Prabhakar Rao, President of the association, said the seeds industry which was worth Rs 4,000 crore was responsible for agricultural production valued at Rs 4.18 lakh crore.

The area under seed production had gone up from about 500 hectares in 1962-63 to more than 5-lakh ha in 1999-2000. The quantity of seed supplied had also gone up from five lakh quintals in 1971 to about one crore quintal in 1999-2000.

He said the private sector had played a major role in hybrid seed production generating 438.5 lakh mandays. Andhra Pradesh had 50 per cent surplus seed production. A draft seeds Act was being prepared to ensure compulsory registration of several varieties and hybrids. A national seeds board was also proposed to be set up, he said.

Mr Prabhakara Rao said the association was seeking the establishment of four testing laboratories for seeds and better representation to the industry on the proposed board. The association had provided infrastructure with an outlay of Rs 2.5 lakh for the bridge course centre sanctioned by the district administration for Amistapur in Bhootpur mandal.

Mr K. Murahari Rao, Chairman of Cease-Child Labour in Andhra Pradesh, said that since September, 150 children had been enrolled in the bridge course centre. Efforts were on to raise the enrolment to 200 by the end of this month, he added.

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AP: Draft seeds Act being prepared

H.P. Singh is UNCCD expert member