Farmers demand rejection of Seeds Bill 2010
It shall provide
an opportunity
for multinational companies to monopolise
TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi district unit of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the Communist Party of India (CPI), has urged the State government to reject the Seeds Bill 2010 and the Tamil Agricultural Council Act 2009. In a representation to the district administration, the district secretary Ayilai Siva.Suriyan said that if the Seeds Bill 2010 were to be passed as law, farmers would be adversely affected as it would provide an opportunity for multinational companies to monopolise , production, distribution, and marketing of seeds in the country. Farmers dependent on traditional seeds, preserved by them, would be put at the mercy of MNCs engaged in the business. Already MNCs were dominating the market, except in paddy and wheat seeds. Farmers would not be able to claim any compensation from private companies, if the seeds fail or result in reduced yields.
The Seeds Bill 2010 had several anti-farmer provisions. The price of seeds, which are now being sold at affordable rates through the National Seeds Corporation, would go up steeply if the Bill were to be implemented, Mr.Suriyan feared. He also pointed out that various other States have also expressed their opposition to the Bill.
Mr.Suriyan also urged the government to repeal the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Council Act 2009, which he said was also “anti-farmer.”
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