MP agri research firm's proposal trips

It's another sad case of a local firm losing its chance to invest in MP. The state agriculture department seems to think the firm's research work does not match its requirements.

Mandsour-based Sipani Agriculture Research Centre has a Rs 26 crore investment proposal for seed research, plant breeding and improvements in cereals and pulses.

The state government is likely to water down its proposal. The company had entered into a deal with the state government in May at the 'Agri-Business Meet'.

On the one hand, the department of agriculture says the firm does not have satisfactory evidence and genetic history of its research in seed development, on the other hand, the Centre says it has not been asked so far to furnish the details.

"We have submitted details but have not been asked to furnish additional information on seed genes," the firm's executive NS Sipani told Business Standard.

Speaking to Business Standard recently, the principal secretary, department of agriculture, Pravesh Sharma, said: "The state government cannot promote or buy equity in a company without knowing the details of its seed development, genetic code, mapping, etc."

Sipani said his firm was engaged in plant breeding and crop improvements in cereals and pulses and had been working on improvements in soybean, corn, wheat, pigeon pea, cotton and vegetables for the past 15 years and got recognition from scientific institutes of national and international reckoning.

A wheat variety called 'Mohan Wonder' developed by the firm is popular in Madhya Pradesh.

The variety is a combination of superior wheat grain quality and high yield. It is cultivated on more than 2 million hectare, according to the firm.

Sipani also has developed "Waman", a three-gene dwarf wheat variety that can yield 70 quintal a hectare (one hectare = 2.5 acres).