(a) whether the Government has any proposal for free distribution of seeds,
fertilisers and pesticides, etc. to the farmers;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any mechanism to check the escalating
prices of seeds, pesticides and fertilisers in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): Government has no specific proposal for free distribution of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides
to farmers. Provision for distribution of seed mini kits free of cost for popularizing the new varieties/
hybrids of rice, wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds are given to farmers under National Food Security Mission,
Accelerated pulse production programme and Integrated Scheme on Oil Seeds, Pulses, Oilpalm and Maize. The crop
-wise details of allocation of seed minikits made during the current year (2010-11) for Kharif and Rabi season
are in Annexure- 1.
(c) to (e): The Seeds Act 1966, Seeds Rules 1968, Seeds (Control) order 1983 and proposed Seeds Bill 2004 have
no provision for regulating price of seeds. The Government of India has taken the consistent position that it
does not support regulation of price of seeds. For supply of seeds to farmers at reasonable rate, the details
of assistance/subsidy provided for seed production and distribution are in Annexure-II.
The fertilizers are provided to the farmers at subsidized maximum retail prices (MRPs) which are much lower
than the delivered cost of fertilizers at farm gate level. The MRPs of fertilizers have not been increased
since 2002. The Government of India has implemented nutrient based subsidy policy for decontrolled Phosphatic
& Potassic (P&K) fertilizers from 01.04.2010 under which MRPs are fixed in such a manner that MRPs of
Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers are near the MRPs that prevailed before the implementation of nutrient
based subsidy policy so that farmers are not adversely affected. The prices of few fertilizers like Diammonium
Phosphate (DAP), Murate Of Potash (MOP) and complex fertilizers have been increased by Rs.30 per bag. However,
the prices of Single Super Phosphate (SSP) have been decreased by Rs.70/- per bag after the implementation of
nutrient based subsidy policy. The prices of Urea have been increased by 10% on the recommendation of Group
of` Ministers w.e.f 01.04.2010.
As far as prices of pesticides are concerned, they are determined by market forces
and there is no problem in their availability.