Seed bill 2004

In the last five years, AP State Government has faced serious problems with the Seed Companies in regulating the Seed sale in the state in fulfilling its objective of helping farmers to have timely access to good quality seed in adequate quantities.

in 2005 after a large scale cotton seed failure in Warangal dist, after establishing failure state govt asked Mahyco to pay compensation and company refused to pay and moved to AP high court on paying compensation saying state govt is harrasing them. AP high court orders also were in fav of mahyco and till date company never paid the compensation
in 2006 after MRTP commission asked to reduce the bt cotton seed price, AP govt reduced the seed prices to Rs. 650 and Rs. 750 for bollgard I and II. MMB moved to delhi high court on this issue
in 2007 when Agriculture officers in Warangal district found that Mahyco Bt Bhybrids are sold in warangal market, they raided and seized the shop. Mahyco challenged that cotton seed is removed from Essential commodities act, hence Seed control order which draws powers from EC act doesnt apply to cotton. at this juncture AP govt made a new act to regulate transgenic cotton seed in AP. Seed control order will be repealed once the 2010 bill is passed, there by taking away the rights.
In 2010 monsanto filed case in AP high court requesting to stop state govt from reducing the royalty as they have no power. the case still pending in the court.
In all these four cases and many other situations it is clear that in the existing bills state has no powers and it is finding it difficult to regulate the prices (and/or royalty) and get adequate compensation be paid to farmers when crop fails. We hope the situation in other states is no different. Unfortunately in 2010 bill also states (or for that matter even centre) do not have these powers.

In this situation we seek the following amendments to the Seed Bill 2004 in addition to the very useful Amendments suggested by Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture Shri. Sharad Pawar. States should have powers to regulate seed prices and royalties, evolve a simple mechanism to pay adequate compensation (on the crop loss rather than just the seed price) and award punishment for offenses with adequate fine (in proportion to the damage caused, rather than just blanket 30,000 as mentioned in the bill).

Seed Bill 2004 Original

Seed bill 2009 (amendments)

Seed Bill 2010 -Issues of Concern

AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY AP STATE GOVT FOR THE SEED BILL 2004