Latest news with #M.KodandaReddy
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
New Seed Law Soon to Protect Farmers' Rights and Ensure Quality: Telangana Agriculture Commission Chairman
Gadwal: A New Seed Law to Empower and Protect Farmers Soon, Says Telangana State Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Commission Chairman M. Kodanda Reddy In a major development aimed at providing long-term relief to farmers facing issues with cotton seeds, Telangana State Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Commission Chairman M. Kodanda Reddy announced that a new Seed Law that ensures control over seed companies and secures farmers' rights will soon be implemented. He emphasized that this law, expected within 15 to 20 days, will offer legal protection to farmers and strict regulation on seed companies. This announcement was made during a consultative meeting held at the IDOC Conference Hall in the Collectorate on Friday under the chairmanship of District Collector B.M. Santhosh. The meeting was convened to discuss problems being faced by farmers related to cotton seed cultivation and to gather suggestions for their resolution. Farmers, their representatives, seed organizers, and company officials shared their views with the Commission. Kodanda Reddy expressed pride in the cotton crop cultivated in the district, noting its competitiveness not only in the domestic market but also in global markets like China. He highlighted this as a matter of pride for the state and acknowledged the state's efforts through multiple schemes and new policies to strengthen the agricultural sector. The Commission held the meeting in Gadwal after receiving reports of serious issues with cotton seed failures, leading to high debts and suicides among farmers. He stated that the upcoming Seed Law will provide regulatory oversight on seed companies and safeguard farmers' rights, ensuring accountability. Referring to the past difficulties farmers faced due to the Dharani land registration system, he noted that the newly formed state government has already initiated the Bhubharati Act to resolve land ownership issues. The Seed Law is being designed in a similar manner to benefit farmers comprehensively. He also assured that issues faced by women in agriculture are being addressed and justice would be ensured for women farmers. Referring to how the Commission had resolved issues faced by maize farmers in Mulugu district, he reiterated their commitment to field-level grievance redressal. He recommended that farmers be given direct access to companies without intermediaries to ensure clarity on seed quality, supply, and company responsibilities. Kodanda Reddy also stressed the need for licensed moneylenders to follow RBI regulations, maintain transaction audits, and operate transparently to prevent exploitation. He reaffirmed the government's stand that 'Farmers are the backbone of the nation' and that it will always stand by them. Committee member K.V. Narasimha Reddy stated that due to farmers losing trust in seed organizers, both parties are facing losses. He urged organizers to act responsibly and added that the new law will provide a permanent solution to such problems. Committee member Sunil Kumar highlighted the importance of reviving the 2005 Contract Farming Law and pointed out that farmers are unfairly bearing risks which should be managed by companies. He emphasized the necessity for farmers to be aware of their land rights. With 60–70% of the population dependent on agriculture and over 50 laws relating to the sector, he called for increased awareness among farmers. He praised the government's effort in introducing new laws related to land, seeds, and marketing, including the already enacted Bhubharati Act and soon-to-be-launched Seed Law. District Collector B.M. Santhosh assured that recommendations are being sent to the government for addressing farmer issues and that the administration is taking comprehensive steps for resolution. He stated that with nearly 40,000 farmers producing cotton seeds across 30,000 acres, seed cultivation is a primary income source for the district. As such, the government is formulating new policies and laws focused on farmer welfare. He confirmed that suggestions from farmers will be incorporated into policy-making, and that a detailed review and systematic approach will be adopted to resolve seed-related issues. The administration will gather clear data from companies, submit reports on seed failures, and prepare SOPs for clarity on money lending and agreements. 'Our focus is the welfare of farmers in every aspect,' he concluded. Earlier, the Commission Chairman visited farms in Putanpalli village, personally interacting with farmers to understand their ground-level problems with cotton seed cultivation. The meeting was attended by District Additional Collector Lakshminarayana, RDO Alivelu, Commission members Ramulu Naik, Sunil Kumar, Ram Reddy Gopal Reddy, Gadugu Gangadhar, K.V. Narasimha Reddy, Marikanti Bhavani, former Alampur MLA Sampath Kumar, District Agriculture Officer Sakriya Naik, other district officials, seed cotton organizers, company representatives, farmers, farmer associations, and public representatives.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana Agri commission chief slams Centre's gene-edited rice move, demands moratorium
Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission Chairman M. Kodanda Reddy has flayed the Centre for its approval and release of gene-edited rice varieties in the country. He demanded a moratorium on the release and commercial cultivation of gene-edited rice, pending independent scientific review and full public consultations with State governments, scientists, farmers and consumers. In a letter to Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Chouhan on Tuesday, Mr. Reddy has expressed concerns over the decision, citing inadequate transparency and lack of comprehensive public consultation. He pointed out that States were not consulted, and previously, the Andhra Pradesh government had clearly expressed its rejection of genetically modified crops due to concerns over biosafety, environmental risk and the livelihoods of lakhs of farmers. 'As one of India's largest rice-producing states, Telangana has much to lose from ecological or market disruption caused by such technologies,' he said, adding that consumers across the country had not been consulted on the implications of gene-edited foods entering the market, and there are currently no mandatory labelling guidelines for gene-edited products, denying consumers their right to informed choice. He claimed that the introduction of gene-edited rice may contaminate native seed varieties, affecting export potential, especially to countries with strict GM-free import standards. 'Farmers may eventually be forced into dependency on proprietary seed technologies, threatening their right to save and exchange seeds under the PPV&FR Act,' he said, referring to the sad experience of cotton farmers with Bt cotton and illegal Ht Bt cotton as a grim reminder of the risks. Stating that the decision will impact India's food sovereignty and help the corporate interests, the former MLA urged the Union Minister to respect Telangana's stance, halt further approvals, and uphold the rights of farmers and consumers alike.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
State govt. begins exercise to implement crop insurance from next Kharif, to frame modalities
HYDERABAD The State government is planning to introduce different crop insurance schemes by studying the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Joyana (PMFBY) and other crop insurance schemes by other States. With a view to extend crop insurance scheme to almost all farmers raising various crops in the State, the State government held a preliminary meeting on Wednesday with officials of the Agriculture Department and others as part of fulfilling one promise made in the election manifesto of the Congress. The meeting chaired by Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao was attended by Rythu Commission Chairman M. Kodanda Reddy, Secretary (Agriculture) M. Raghunandan Reddy and others. The minister suggested that the authorities formulate guidelines to cover maximum risk based on the risk factors of Kharif and Rabi crops. Officials explained to the minister that the State could be divided into 11 clusters based on the possibility of loss/risk and they put the normal extent during Kharif at about 130 lakh acres including paddy in 66.8 lakh acres, cotton 44.75 lakh acres, maize 5.23 lakh acres, red gram 5.21 lakh acres, soybean 3.8 lakh acres, chilli 1.9 lakh acres and others. Similarly, the extent in Rabi is put at 78 lakh acres including paddy in 59 lakh acres, maize 9 lakh acres, groundnut 2.2 lakh acres, bengal gram 1.7 lakh acres and others. As per the PMFBY guidelines, the share premium to be borne by farmers would be 2% for Kharif crop, 1.5% for Rabi crops and 5% for horticultural crops and the rest would be borne by the State and Central governments in 50:50 ratio. The minister hoped that the crop insurance schemes will be helpful to plug the farmers' losses due to untimely rain, excess rain, deficient rain and hailstorm at least to some extent. He asked the officials to frame guidelines keeping in mind the farmers' interests in case of yield-based insurance for paddy, maize, red gram, black gram, soybean, groundnut, bengal gram, sesamum and others and weather-based insurance for cotton, chilli, mango, oil palm, tomato, papaya, sweet lime and others. The minister further asked the officials to examine the possibility of compensating total loss in case of hailstorm during the Rabi season for crops such as paddy, mango, chilli, papaya and others. He also wanted them to frame guidelines for estimating the loss with the help of technology so that insurance benefits could reach the farmers at the earliest.
