Explainer: Amendments to Seed & insecticide Acts leave producers, dealers fuming

Amendments made to the Seeds and Insecticides Acts by the Haryana Government, have left the seeds and insecticide producers and dealers fuming in Haryana. While the government claimed that the amendments were made to prevent sales of sub-standard and misbranded seeds and insecticides, respectively, the producers and dealers claim that the amendments will promote corruption. Following the resentment, the producers and dealers have gone on strike.

What has led to the resentment?

The new provisions in the seeds Act make offences under the Act non-bailable and cognisable. Earlier, for producers there was a fine of Rs 500 for the first offence and Rs 1,000 fine, or six-month imprisonment for the second offence, or with both. However, now, there will be a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and one to three years of imprisonment, on the basis of the offence. In case of insecticides, there will be a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and six months to three years of imprisonment.

How many people are involved in the business?

There are said to be over 500 big seed producers, 10,000 big seed dealers and nearly 5,000 small-time dealers in Haryana. Besides, a large number of people are directly and indirectly associated with the seeds business.

What do the producers claim?

The seed producers claim that the seed production is a highly regulated process in which the principal seed is procured from the government agencies, and then grown under the supervision of the Haryana State Seed Certification Agency. The product remains under monitoring of the agency at various levels and after testing in government labs, the product is released in the market for sale. Similarly, the insecticide producers claim that certain things, including weather, are not in control of the manufacturers and dealers, and it plays an important role in the effectiveness of the product.

What are their concerns?

The seed producers say that the amendments will instill a sense of fear among the producers and dealers and it will promote corrupt practices. Various reasons, including weather and dormancy period, can affect the germination of seeds, which are not in the control of the producers. They said the changes were made without consulting the producers.

What are the farmers’ take on the changes?

The farmers have welcomed the amendments made by the government and said that it will make the producers and dealers to ensure the supply of quality seeds in the market. In the absence of quality seeds, the farmers face losses while the penalty on the producers and dealers selling sub-standard and poor quality products was negligible.

Haryana Tribune