The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has refuted media reports claiming that it allowed 10 times more pesticide residues in herbs and spices.
Farmers rejected generous proposal of the centre that would have helped small and marginalised farmers diversify crops and assured transition to sustainable practices.
The Haryana government is providing Rs 7000 to farmers growing alternate crops which require less water to grow. Such crops include pulses, maize, oilseeds, and fodder crops.
"I acknowledge with pride, the huge service done by small farmers in contributing to the health of fellow citizens by growing this shri anna," Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Nine botanists from the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, the world's largest seed bank at that time, had starved themselves to death while trying to preserve their collection from Nazi forces that surrounded Leningrad.