Draft Seeds Bill, 2019
The revised draft Seeds Bill 2019, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare placed in the public domain recently for suggestions and comments, seems to be a watered down version of a draft
Seeds
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Indigenous Bt cotton can no more be used for cultivation
An indigenous Bt cotton variety Bt Bikaneri Narma developed through a collaborative effort can no more be used for cultivation. A probe conducted by a five-member team, headed by Jawaharlal Nehru University
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HC orders company to compensate ryots for defective seeds
The Bombay High Court has asked a seed manufacturing company to pay compensation of Rs 45 lakh to 164 farmers in Maharashtra for supplying defective seeds as a result of which the crop quality suffered.
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The quiet revolution in staple food value chains
<p><span id="itro1">This ADB study documents the transformation of value chains moving rice and potatoes between the farm gate and the consumer in Bangladesh, the People's Republic of China, and India.</span></p>
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Bt cotton: questions and answers
The Indian Society for Cotton Improvement (ISCI) has recently released a comprehensive book on "Bt Cotton Questions & Answers" authored by Dr. K R Kranthi, Director of the ICAR's Central Institute of Cotton
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Compulsory licensing of seeds on the anvil
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Authority is framing the regulations for a compulsory licensing system under which a registered plant variety could be licensed to a third party for production of seeds, based on the demand from farmers. Registrar General of the authority R.C. Agrawal said here on Tuesday that the system was designed to suit public interests. “Under the provisions of the PPVFR Act 2001, the authority can license production to a third party for a specific period of time, even if the breeder is not willing, provided there is demand from farmers and the breeder cannot produce seeds in sufficient quantity”.
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Limagrain Buys Century Seeds
French agri-conglomerate acquires Delhi-based vegetable seeds maker for about . 140-145 crore in an all-cash deal In yet another example of the growing interest of global seeds majors towards the Indian
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Odisha to set up agency for certification of organic products
With organic farming having great potential in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the state government is planning to set up a separate agency for certification of organic products. The
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Bolivian farmers urge rethink on Mother Earth law
Soy farmers in Bolivia are urging leftist President Evo Morales to reconsider a ban on genetically modified seeds contained in a package of environmental regulation called the Mother Earth law. The
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Farm department to suggest changes to land utilisation Bill
No diversion of farmland will be allowed, says Minister Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan has said the department will suggest amendments to the land utilisation Bill to prevent the diversion of farmland for other purposes. Responding to queries from reporters at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the Agriculture Department had a difference of opinion on the provisions of the Bill.
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Hybrid seeds business opportunity rising fast
Hybrid seeds, including biotech seeds, represent new business opportunities in India based on yield improvement, according to Usha Barwale Zehr, chief technology officer of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company. “Approximately 7,000 plant species are estimated to be used for human consumption, of which just four crops - wheat, maize, rice and potato - provide half of the total world food production and 15 crops contribute two-thirds. Many of these crops are grown in India, which has the potential to become a major producer of biotech rice and vegetables,” she told Business Standard.