Panchayats, Rural Development, Social Justice and Cooperatives Minister Gopal Bhargava has stressed the need to make seed producing cooperative societies more efficient and strengthened. He said that efforts should be made to make available government land to these societies to construct godowns.
Bhargava chaired a meeting of Board of Directors of MP State Cooperative Seed Producing and Marketing Federation here today. Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen was also present on the occasion.
The meeting was informed that 2010 quintal Kharif procreative seeds were provided to seed producing cooperative societies during Kharif-2013. Availability of about 603 quintal procreative seeds is expected during this Kharif season. It was informed that seed production work was taken up in 55 thousand 587 hectare during year 2013-14. Due to untimely and excessive rains last year, Kharif seed production programme was affected and 45 percent raw seeds could be procured. Due to reduction in percentage of germination following grading and sampling, one lakh 75 thousand quintal seeds will be available. During Rabi 2013-14, seed producing cooperative societies had taken up production in 52 thousand 381 hectare from which 7.60 lakh quintal seeds are expected to be available.
Bhargava and Bisen also reviewed progress of construction of godowns-cum-grading plants of Seeds Federation. The meeting sanctioned escalated cost of godowns-cum-grading plants’ construction. Departmental officers were directed that godowns-cum-grading plants of 500 MT or more capacity should be constructed during next 5 years. For this, limit of Rs. 5 crore per annum should be revised as per requirement. Suggestion was also given to select land at better location for grading plants. The meeting was informed that the state has about 2300 seed producing cooperative societies. Of these, 1800 are inactive. Directives were given to sent notices as per rules to the societies which have been inactive for last 3 years.
Managing Director Bl Chouhan informed Board of Directors’ meeting about training programme for members of primary seed producing cooperative societies. Action taken report regarding last meeting’s decisions was also presented. Principal Secretary Cooperatives Ajit Kesari, Principal Secretary Farmers Welfare and Agriculture-Development Rajesh Rajora, Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperatives Manish Shrivastava and other senior departmental officers and Board’s member were present on the occasion.