The Hindu : Fate of seed processing units uncertain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Fate of seed processing units uncertain

By Our Correspondent

MAHABUBNAGAR MARCH 5. The fate of 14 seed processing units including that of one at Wanaparthy in Mahabubnagar district still hangs in balance, as the Government is dillydallying over the closure of those units in accordance with the G.O.Ms.No. 35, which was issued by the Government on September 5, 2002.

The Government as a part of phase II action plan of public enterprise reforms in the State has ordered the closure of 14 seed processing units of the Andhra Pradesh State Seeds Development Corporation through G.O.Ms.No.35. The Government's order paves the way for the closure of APSSDC units located at Wanaparthy, Nellore, Ongole, Khammam, Srikakulam, Nirmal, Cuddapah, Anantapur, Guntur, Eluru, Kakinada, Saluru, Nidamanoor and Marteru. The GO also empowered the APSSDC to reduce the strength of the staff in those units from existing 343 to 202. The reason for the decision to close the 14 units among the existing 24 units is said to be their unviability.

The APSSDC produces quality seed through its units in different parts of the State by organising seed production and supplying the same to farmers for improving the production of different crops. The role of the APSSDC is vital in the farming sector as unlike private seed producers it produces seeds of groundnut, pulses and other coarse cereals. The private seed producers produce only commercially profitable seeds such as paddy, maize, sunflower and cotton. Moreover, during the current drought conditions the State is experiencing, the APSSDC through its 24 units takes up the responsibility of seed distribution to farmers.

Against this background, the farmers of those areas where the units proposed to be closed down are located have opposed the decision and taken to an agitational path to register their protest against issuance of G.O.Ms. No. 35. The farmers of Mahabubnagar district have also announced a protest rally and rasta-roko on National Highway No. 7 at Kothakota on January 24. To water down the agitation of the farmers, the local Minister, N.Janardhan Reddy, hurriedly wrote a letter to the Agriculture Minister, Vadde Shobanadrishwar Rao, on January 23 (that is a day before the agitation of the farmers) to reconsider the decision of closure of seed processing unit at Wanaparthy in view of the prevailing drought conditions and in order to protect the interests of farmers of the district. The Agriculture Minister readily accepted the request of the Panchayat Raj Minister and issued an order (C No. 28/M (agri)/2003) keeping in abeyance the G.OMs. No. 35 for present. He stated in the order that a meeting with the Secretary Agriculture and other officials has been fixed on January 28, 2003 in which the issue would be discussed thoroughly and a decision taken.

It is learnt that the Agriculture Minister had convened a meeting of officials concerned on January 28, but no decision was taken. It is also learnt that the officials were firm in their opinion of closing down the non-viable units of APSSDC but the Minister negated it on the ground that it may jeopardize the prospects of the ruling party in the next elections. As the Government had not spelt out its decision on the implementation of the G.O.Ms. No. 35 even after a month, the employees working in those units and farmers of those areas are in confusion over the future of the APSSDC's units.

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