Source: Financial Express via Checkbiotech

Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has decided amendments to the Seeds Act 1966 even as the government is planning to amend the Indian Patent Act 1970 for according patent rights over transgenic seeds which may amount to royalty payment by farmers.

Addressing the economic editors’ conference here on Wednesday, the minister said, “We have taken up the task of revising the Seeds Act 1966. In the proposed Seeds Bill of 2004, we aim to bring in provisions for a more liberalised climate for investment by the private sector in the seed industry. At the same time the new Seeds Bill would also strengthen farmers’ rights and address their concerns with regard to save, use, exchange and sale of seeds.”

When questioned whether the proposed amendments to the Seeds Act will be at variance with the new amendments to the Patent Act, he said, “We will attempt to strike a balance.”

Incidentally, the existing Plant Varieties Protection & Farmers’ Rights Act allows farmers to save seeds for reuse and sale in the next season. A section of the industry has been urging the government to dilute this provision in wake of the new patent regime. In this context, the minister’s assurance to incorporate this provision in the Seeds Act shows the farm ministry’s concern in protecting farmers’ rights in the new patent regime that comes into effect from January.

On the issue of sale of spurious or substandard seeds and the subsequent claims for compensation on account of damages, the minister said: “The penalty for such an action and claims for compensation can be addressed under the existing Consumer Protection Act.”

The new Bill also seeks to accredit private organisations to conduct agronomic trials and at the same time has provisions for compulsory registration of varieties. The new Bill would allow accreditation of private seed testing laboratories, he said.

Mr Pawar said that the government was also planning to set up an agri-business model in co-operation with bankers which would address the issue of unemployed agriculture graduates’ information flow to the farm level.

© 2004: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd