SKM poses 10 questions on seed bill to Union min Chouhan

Bathinda: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha has questioned Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the Seeds Bill, claiming that it will only help large multinationals. Raising 10 key points, the farm body questioned why did the Union govt enact the Seed Bill when agriculture is a state subject, that too without consulting the states. It also questioned why is the bill silent on providing good quality seeds, on time and at affordable prices."Farmers have a right to produce, preserve, exchange, and transfer seeds amongst themselves under current laws. Yet, the Seed Bill 2025 violates this right by requiring small traditional seed producers to register on a par with large seed corporate companies, placing them on the same playing field," said a farmer leader. "India has 15 agro-climatic zones with varied soils and monsoon patterns. Foreign-tested seeds, including GM seeds, can contaminate Indian seeds, endangering seed sovereignty," he pointed out. Why do you allow MNCs to dominate Indian farmers? The Seed Bill 2025 allows free entry of MNCs into Indian agriculture, bypassing GEAC and other govt regulatory bodies. Why did you overturn the Seed Bill 1966, which restricted imports as per Indian needs?Why are you not regulating the exorbitant prices of seeds? Currently, vegetable seeds as well as hybrid seeds are simply out of reach of farmers; even then, there is no provision in the Seed Bill 2025 to regulate prices.Why are you not promoting farmers' cooperatives and public research? The ICAR, public research organisations, and seed villages by farmers' cooperatives can provide quality seeds at affordable prices to small farmers.Why are you not providing accessible compensation to farmers for crop failure due to spurious seeds, and stringent legal action against the culprits? Many farmer suicides happen because of crop failure due to spurious seeds, especially in the cotton belt. Yet the Seed Bill 2025 does not mandate compensation to farmers for lost profit, cultivation expenses, or the cost of fresh seed and seed insurance.Why does the bill not ensure internet access when insisting on a QR code facility? Many small producers have limited internet access, yet the Seed Bill 2025 mandates them to use QR codes for each seed pack.If you do not have a convincing answer to these questions, the farmers demand you desist from enacting the Seed Bill 2025 in Parliament, thus surrendering Indian agriculture and the people's right to seed sovereignty to the giant MNCs, finance capital, and the WTO. MSID:: 128208914 413 |