Regular Update
ATM News Network: Agricultural service dealers from across Nashik district are gearing up to meet Maharashtra's State Agriculture Minister, Mr Dhananjay Munde, in Pandharpur on October 6. The meeting, scheduled to conclude at 11 o'clock, aims to discuss a new law proposed against seed sellers, which has raised concerns within the agricultural community.
Under the proposed law, any farmer, company, or agricultural officer can file a complaint against agricultural input sellers if the seeds they provide do not germinate as expected. While this measure is intended to protect farmers from substandard seeds, it has triggered apprehension among agricultural sellers about its potential impact on their livelihoods.
The meeting in Pandharpur is expected to draw 500 to 600 agricultural input sellers, representing the Nashik Agro Dealers Association. Prominent figures such as Arun Mulane, Chandrakant Thakkar, Vinod Khivansara, Mahendra Bora, Sanjay Hirawat, Sanjay Chandsare, Mahendra Saraf, Dinesh Mundada, Santosh Patil, Deepak Sanap, and Sunil Patil will participate in the discussion.
The Maharashtra government has recently taken a stern stance against the sale of substandard seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. An Act has been formulated to regulate such supplies, and the process of framing four additional similar laws is underway. In response, the Agricultural Dealers Association has called for the repeal of these acts.
It is essential to note that vendors in the state do not produce agricultural inputs themselves. Instead, they purchase seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides from approved companies under the State Agriculture Department and provide them to farmers in sealed containers. In light of this, the dealers' association argues that vendors should not be held accountable in cases of seed non-germination, given their role as intermediaries.
The dealers' association is requesting that the provisions of Maharashtra Slum Gang MPDM Act 1981 No. 44 and the other Bills, including No. 40, 41, 42, and 43, related to the new law should not be applied to sellers. The meeting in Pandharpur aims to address these concerns and engage in a constructive dialogue with the Agriculture Minister to find a resolution that protects both farmers and the livelihoods of agricultural input sellers.
