New Delhi, March 26 (IANS): Calling for winding down India's dependence on imported agro-chemicals, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Thursday that the Pesticides Management Bill to protect domestic industries from multi-nationals will be tabled in the current session of parliament that resumes on April 21.

Speaking at an event of the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) here, the minister assured the agro-chemical industries that "their interests will be taken care of while drafting the long-awaited Pesticides Management Bill", the CCFI said in a release here.

"The government firmly supports the growth of local Indian agro-chemical industries. However, to be truly competitive at the global level it is essential that Indian companies start investing more in research and development of new products," Singh said.

"We believe the Indian industry has the potential to provide farmers with world class products at affordable rates for which they are at the mercy of multi-national companies," he added.

Earlier on Thursday, Singh said at an event organised by the National Cooperative Development Corporation that in a scenario of growing grain stock and increasing production of high value commodities, improving market linkage assumes great significance.

"The country is a leading producer of several commodities like cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and jute," he said.