Abohar, April 17: Taking cognisance of the complaint made by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Kadian) over an “attempt” to divert hybrid cotton seed meant for Punjab to the neighbouring Rajasthan, the “Principal Certificates” issued arbitrarily by some distributors here to retailers have been cancelled.
Dr Jasbir Singh Bains, Director, Agriculture Department, said on Sunday that a report would be sought from the Fazilka-based district authorities on Monday.
District Agriculture Officer Beant Singh said the “controversial” certificates were no more valid. Two state government officials on Saturday evening visited the business house and inspected related record.
BKU district president Budh Ram Bishnoi and block president Subhash Godara had complained to the Fazilka District Magistrate that some distributors here had, in violation of the set principles, issued “Principal Certificate” addressed to the Registering Authority (District Agriculture officer) that retailers having sale outlets at Rajpura village located at a 100-m distance from the interstate border, have been authorised to sell hybrid seed.
The BKU had produced a copy of such certificate that was issued to a retailer to sell hybrid seed manufactured by four seed companies of Hyderabad, one each of Mumbai and Nagpur. Similar certificates are believed to have been issued to some other shops near the interstate border.
The BKU claimed that three business firms dealing with the marketing of seed, pesticides and fertilisers were operating from the same building in the old grain market. Their names had reportedly surfaced in the sale of “sub-standard” cotton seed that ruined many farmers last year.
The BKU demanded action for issuance of certificates illegally and feared that hybrid/genetic cotton seed packets of Punjab quota might be diverted to Rajasthan.
Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
