The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Doubts over quality of jowar seed expressed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 03, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Doubts over quality of jowar seed expressed

Special Correspondent

Minister directs officials to send seed samples for testing

HYDERABAD: The Agriculture Minister, N. Raghuveera Reddy, on Saturday expressed doubts about the quality of seed produced by a private firm and directed the officials to send the samples of the seed for testing. The Minister wanted the officials to initiate action into the issue after obtaining the report.

Mr. Reddy went on a surprise visit to inspect the quality of seed in the seed production companies located near Kompally on the city outskirts. He inspected the processing facility at one of these companies, Vibha Seeds, and appeared dissatisfied with the quality of jowar seed being produced there. In the absence of the senior representatives of the company, the lower level staff could not give satisfactory answers to the Minister's repeated queries about the timing of producing jowar seed and the process adopted. Dissatisfied with the replies the Minister directed the officials to hold back the 11 tonnes of seed lying in the unit till the test was completed. The Minister also interacted with some farmers during his visit. Meanwhile, the management of the Vibha Seeds said that the firm was yet to test the quality of the jowar seed inspected by the Minister. The stock comprised unpacked seed in bulk and the Minister had only ordered a quality test of the seed. The firm would be allowed to release the seed for sale once the tests confirmed their quality, a spokesman of the company said.

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