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Opposition to Seed Act grows
The Government plans to introduce amendments to the Seed and Planting Material Act are being opposed by both opposition political parties as well as those within the Government as they fear the new regulations will be a bane instead of a boon to local farmers but Agriculture officials say the new laws will benefit the country and the farming community at large.
Both the National Freedom Front (NFF) of Minister Wimal Weerawansa and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) say the new rules will prove to be detrimental to local farmers while giving police powers to agriculture officers to act against those who violate the provisions of the new act.
The NFF said the provisions that make it mandatory for all seed and planting material handlers to register with and obtain a certificate from the Seed and Planting Material Registrar attached to the Agriculture Department after paying a still unspecified fee, every two years, would impede the system traditionally adapted by local farmers of exchanging seed among themselves.
“If this law comes into effect and if a farmer sells seed to another farmer and he has not registered himself, he would be liable to a fine of up to Rs50,000 as well as up to six months imprisonment. There is also the threat of the confiscation of his seed produce. Such provisions have caused a great deal of fear among the farming community,” the NFF said.
Another disturbing aspect of the envisaged Bill is the powers it will confer on the Director-General of Agriculture, the Registrar, Assistant Registrars and other authorised officers when carrying out the duties assigned to them, to be considered as police officers who discharge the powers under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the NFF pointed out.
The new Act will allow the officials to inspect premises of seed and planting material handlers, obtain relevant information, reports and documents, samples of seed and planting material as and when necessary.
The JVPs Parliamentary Group leader Anura Dissanayaka said his Party would not allow the draft Bill to be passed in Parliament in its present form as it only seeks to legitimise the handing over of the import and distribution of seed in the local market to the private sector.
“Even now the seed market is monopolised by the private sector but the provisions of this Act will further strengthen their hands in the field of agriculture while the local farmer will lose the little rights he enjoys at present,” the JVP MP said.
However Agriculture Director General Rajitha Wijekoon said the amendments which are anticipated for the original Seed Act first enacted in 2003 will strengthen the process in which seed is imported into the country and ensure that better quality products are brought in and distributed among local farmers.
“At present poor quality seeds are imported and even though the requirement is there for the importers to register themselves, most fail to do so. As the amendments will give more teeth for us to supervise and bring legal action against offenders, it will benefit both the country at large and the farming community in particular,” he said.
Dr. Wijekoon also said the draft Bill was now in the public domain and changes would be made to it in keeping with the views expressed by farmers societies as well as other interested parties.
The draft t Bill seeks to protect and regulate the quality of seed and planting materials, protect the rights of users of seed and planting materials, formalise the activities and protect the rights of seed and planting material handlers, develop the seed and planting material industry as well as safeguard and conserve the genetic resources of indigenous seed and planting materials important to agriculture.
Dr. Wijekoon said that farmers can continue to exchange seed among themselves but it is those who engage in dealing with seed distribution on a commercial basis who have to register with the Department.
“Two weeks ago I completely stopped the import of bean seed and by the end of this year we will stop the import of bitter gourd (karawila), snake gourd (pathola) and ridged gourd (wetakolu) seed into the country. This is done to strengthen the hands of the farmers who will be given locally produced seed for planting. The new law will also help to achieve the same objective,” he said.
Meanwhile, JVP MP Dissanayaka said his party has begun to educate the farming community on the dangers of this draft Bill becoming law. “We are holding meetings with them and will build up an agitation campaign against this Bill,” he added.