Hyderabad, May 01: Chief Minister K Rosaiah has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on changes needed in clauses of the Seed Bill introduced in Parliament.
In this connection, he also thanked the Union agriculture minister for incorporating some of the views of the State Government in amendments to the bill.
At a review meeting on the agriculture sector here today with the minister and officials, he discussed issues like the Central Seed Bill, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, additional fund requirements under the normal State Plan Extension Scheme, and release of budgeted funds to the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University.
Rosaiah deputed Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy to head a delegation of MPs and leaders of various rythu sanghams leaders to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and other leaders to impress upon them the need to incorporate the State’s proposals in the Seed Bill.
In his letter to the prime minister, he said AP was a major supplier of seed — particularly paddy, maize, sorghum, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton — to other States. Rosaiah explained to Singh that during 2006 the State Government had proposed certain provisions for incorporation in the Seed Bill, 2004.
Important provisions that had not been included were regulation of sale price of seed and royalty whenever required in public interest, he said, and added that certain provisions in the Bill required amendments so as to confer on States the power to constitute committees deciding on compensation payable for defective seeds.
At the meeting, the chief minister agreed to consider increasing allocations under agriculture and allied sectors so as to access funds from Centre to the tune of Rs 600 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana during 2010-11.
Rosaiah directed officials to prepare for the State-level bankers committee meeting to be held on May 12 or 13 to discuss disbursal of Rs 38,000 crore in loans to farmers.
Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, special chief secretary to the department Rachel Chatterjee and other officials participated in the meet.
—Agencies