Pre sale Testing of Seeds mandatory for private Dealers: Director Agriculture Jammu

JAMMU: A maiden meeting of Wholesaler and Retail Seed dealers was today held to ensure the smooth supply of quality seeds to the farmers here at Conference Hall of Joint Directorate of Agriculture Extension. Director Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Jammu, K. K. Sharma chaired the meeting.

Joint Director Agriculture (Inputs), B. D. Sharma; Joint Director Agriculture (Extension), Rajan Sharma; Assistant Director Law Enforcement, Roshan Lal Bhagat; Programme Officer, Sanjay Dhar, and Enforcement inspectors of all districts attended the meeting.

At the outset of the meeting, the Director highlighted the importance of Seed as the main input for agricultural crops. He stressed that smooth and timely stocking/supply of the quality and disease-free seed in Jammu Division must be ensured at every cost.

The Director impressed upon the Seed Dealers that no seed should be supplied to farmers without prior lab testing for quality parameters including moisture and germination. He instructed the dealers to supply seed within the working area specified in their license and abide by relevant laws and norms. Seed dealers were asked to submit quantity and area wise monthly seed statement to JDA (Extension).Taking serious note of non participation on part of some seed dealers in the meeting, the Director said that such non serious attitude is unacceptable in future.

Joint Director (Inputs), B. D. Sharma asked the dealers to maintain the record of stocking and sale and uphold the sanctity of their business in favour of farming community.

Joint Director (Extension), Rajan Sharma directed the Enforcement Inspectors to keep vigil on the working of private seed dealers and take stern action against wrong doers.

Point wise agendas including quality of seed, system of supply of seed from companies to whole sellers and further to retailers, area of operation, stocking of seed as per requirement were discussed thread bare in the meeting.