“Any importer of commercial improved seeds must get MoAC´s permission and follow other additional technical procedures to get government´s nod to import seeds once the regulations come into effect,” Dila Ram Bhandari, secretary at the National Seeds Board, told Republica.[break]
According to Bhandari, an importer has to submit an application at the Seeds Quality Control Center under the MoAC along with the samples of the specified varieties. The center would then send the samples to Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NAARC) -- the state-run research agency-- that would send its recommendation to government´s Technical Committee and Variety Approval Committee, which is headed by secretary at the MoAC.
“NAARC would carry out research of the proposed seeds and make recommendations. It takes at least six months to complete the process before the importers are permitted to import seeds,” Bhandari added.
The draft regulation also envisages position of a seed sampling officer at Central Seeds Laboratory, which would have the authority to recommend punishment to importers who violate the regulations.
Farmers had suffered heavy losses in half a dozen districts due to inferior quality of hybrid seeds imported from India early this year. The government had provided Rs 200 million in compensation to the farmers for the loss.
However, seed importers have criticized the regulations for complicating the import procedure. Importers have applied for imports of 65 varieties of hybrid seeds from Indian companies.
“The government has attempted to question the competence of foreign experts by introducing such a provision,” said Mitra Raj Dawadi, president of Nepal Seeds Entrepreneurs Association (NSEA).
Dawadi, who is also an invitee member of the Seed Board, opined that the government should instead have introduced the provision of providing compensation from the concerned companies that supplies seeds of inferior quality. He also said that the complicated procedure to get government´s permission to import seeds would also result in heavy losses to the farmers.
Related story
NEA receives permission to import additional 350 MW of electric...
