Patna, June 9: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today termed the proposed seed bill as a black bill and said it was dangerous and completely against the interests of the farmers. He expressed his view at JD (U) farmers’ cell function at SK Memorial Hall.

Nitish said the view of the state government should also be taken into consideration before formulating the policies on the issue. “Bihar is an agro-based state and livelihood of many is based on agriculture and if that too is put in danger where will they (farmers) go? If the bill comes into force then there is no doubt that the farmers will be penniless. All sections of the society are protesting the bill, be it think-tanks or scientists. Everyone knows that life of the farmers will be in jeopardy if the bill is implemented.”

Proposed in 2004, the bill seeks to nullify Seeds Control Order of 1983, which gives various powers to the state governments to monitor seeds and seed trade.

“Private seed companies, especially multinationals, have made seeds unaffordable for farmers. The state government sells seeds at less than Rs 100 per kg, while private seeds cost thousands of rupees. Nowhere is the bill in favour of the farmers. The policy also says seeds for registration should be sent to Delhi. I am asking why will the farmers go to Delhi for registration of the seeds? Why not do it in the farmer’s home state?”

Talking about the adverse effects of the bill, Nitish said environmentalists are worried over the trials of the seeds. “There shall be more and more trials to check how harmful the seeds are.”

Opposing the penalty, which is proposed in the bill for selling fake and substandard seeds, Nitish said: “The penalty is petty and the compensation is too less for the farmers. A compensation mechanism for farmers should be explicitly fixed.”

“I want that the state governments should get the authority to fix the retail seed price and royalty charges. The provision for re-registration of seeds by a company for 20 years is not correct, as it will create monopoly over a seed variety, which is again dangerous for the farmers,” Nitish said.