Hyderabad, July 26: The Andhra Pradesh government today requested the Centre to incorporate provisions for regulation of seed prices and royalty in the Central Seed Bill, which is expected to be passed in Parliament in the current monsoon session.
Appreciating the Centre’s initiative in moving the Seed Bill, state Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said that regulation of sale price has become essential with several international players entering the Indian market.
Provision should also be incorporated in the proposed law for imprisonment (six months to one year) of dealers selling defective seed, apart from imposing penalty, the minister told a press conference here today.
Also, multi-location trials should be conducted under the supervision of Indian Council of Agriculture Research and agricultural universities before permitting international companies to market imported seed.
–Agencies