Hyderabad, June 26 (PMI): Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Chowdhary on Wednesday launched the seed conference, ISTA-2019 at HICC here in the city. Speaking on the occasion he called upon the participants to focus on use of latest technologies and world farm practices. The Centre will extend support and implement schemes for farmers in the country to benefit through cultivation and farm production he added.
State Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy stated that it was proud moment for Telangana Government to conduct international seed conference (ISTA-2019) in the state. He said that the state government was committed for pushing the agriculture production to a new high. For this we need to check the use of spurious or fake seeds and make sure that only best quality seeds are used, he said. He also stressed on the need for transfer of latest farm practices across the world and use of modern technologies and equipment.
The mega world class seed conference will go on from Wednesday to July 3, 2019. He said that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was making agriculture beneficial to farmers. The conference will help Telangna a seed bowl of country as world seed bowl he said. About 400 seed companies produce 60 lakh tons to 65 lakhs tons of seeds every year he said.
Home minister Mahmood Ali said that fake companies of seeds were being penalized through PD Act. He said that the government would encourage the companies producing quality seeds to push farm activity he added.
About 400 delegates are participating in the conference from 70 nations across the world including scientists, experts, research scholars and officials. (PMI)