Akun Sabharwal warns erring seed traders of action

​Hyderabad: Supplying good quality and correct quantity of seeds will give assurance of financial support to farmers said Controller of Legal Metrology Department Akun Sabharwal. “When farmers are comfortable, countries’ financial growth will also develop. 

Telangana government has been taking all measure for welfare of farmers”, he said and requested the seed companies not to compromise on quality and quantity while producing seeds and asked them to follow the guidelines and rules of Legal Metrology Department.

To create awareness on Legal Metrology Department rules to seeds manufacturers, Telangana Seedsmen Association organised a seminar on Friday at FAPCCI Bhavan. Legal Metrology Department had conducted special checks in the month of May on receiving several complaints of irregularities by traders in sale of seeds. In these raids, 154 cases were registered against erring traders and Rs 2.35 crore worth seeds were seized from them. 

Controller Akun Sabharwal, who was the chief guest at the seminar, said on the receipt of  several complaints against traders on their irregularities, special checks were carried out and department officials noticed less quantity, non mention of manufacturing and expiry dates and in some cases they were not carrying licence to sell the product. 

On the request from the seed companies, they were allotted some time to follow the guidelines and rules of Legal Metrology Department. From now labelling is compulsory according to the rules of Legal Metrology Department.

The department’s primary duty was to ensure that farmer was not at loss and seed manufacturers should support the department to perform the duty effectively and efficiently. Stating that any act depriving farmers of benefits was not correct policy, Sabharwal warned serious action will be taken against traders if they don’t stop irregularities. They should be honest in selling seeds to farmers, he said. 

“Our prime goal is to see the farmer gets high benefits rightfully and if any irregularity was noticed while selling seeds, pesticides and fertilisers, the department will initiate serious action against the erring traders”, the Controller warned.