FSII urged both central and state governments to support the uninterrupted and timely global and domestic movements of farm inputs like seeds, agricultural produce and food.
The Indian seed industry has urged the Centre and State governments to make inter-State movement of seeds and other agri inputs easier, as the months between March and May are crucial for preparing seeds for forthcoming kharif season. As a precautionary measure to contrl the spread of Covid-19, many State governments have declared a lockdown and closed borders, except for essential commodities.
While seed being an essential commodity is exempt from the closure, the National Seed Association of India (NSAI) urged the government to allow the staff working in seed companies and their vehicles as well as retailers to function in the current situation.
Amid lockdown in several states due to coronavirus, seed industry associations on Monday appealed both central and state governments to ensure uninterrupted and timely trans-boundary movement of agricultural inputs critical for the coming kharif season.
Depending on the sowing period, retailers selling seeds may be allowed to open shops, it said in a statement and added that jute planting has already begun in West Bengal, while cotton will start soon in Punjab and Haryana.
Next three months are critical for the farmers and for the food security of the country, as the farmers are preparing for the kharif season, according to the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII).
In this situation, the FSII urged both central and state governments to support the uninterrupted and timely global and domestic movements of farm inputs like seeds, agricultural produce and food. “These products should be allowed access to quarantine checkpoints to ensure continuous production of staple and essential food items,” it added.
FSII also suggested opening of ’green lanes’/special food lanes at national and state toll booths, check-posts and on highways where food and agricultural input delivery vehicles can pass unhindered and are not subjected to roadblocks that might have been put up to restrict movement of people and other materials to fight the virus.
The special food lanes will allow smooth passage of all vehicles carrying essential food commodities and agri-inputs. Several countries such as Philippines, Thailand and China have also adopted similar measures, it said.
Though seeds fall under said essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, the letter issued by the Cabinet Secretary to all State governments on Sunday has not explicitly mentioned the seeds sector. Major seeds industry associations – the National Seed Association of India (NSAI) and the Federation of Seed Industry of India – independently wrote to the government to ensure the movement of seeds.
“Lakhs of acres of seed crop is planted in the rabi season, which is now at the flowering to harvesting stage. The quality control and production supervisory teams need to monitor the pollination, pre-harvest and harvest operations. Similarly, the quality assurance teams need to conduct inspections, carry out grow out test operations as well as laboratory testing. Finally, all the seeds need to be processed, packed and distributed across the country so that they reach through millions of retailers to the needy farmers,” NSAI Executive Director RK Trivedi said in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal.
