Paddy growers in several villages of Bonakal mandal have suffered a setback at the threshold of Kharif sowing after the paddy seeds of a particular variety supplied to them by the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs) allegedly failed to sprout during the pre-germination process.
This has spurred outcry from paddy farmers and various farmers’ organisations in the mandal.Farmers belonging to Tutikuntla, Brahmanapalli, Ravinuthala and a few other villages have purchased seeds of the BPT 5204 variety at subsidised rate from the PACSs concerned more than a week ago. When the farmers subjected the paddy seeds to pre-germination treatment, the seeds reportedly failed to sprout, leaving the paddy growers in a quandary.
Taken aback by the sudden impediment, some of the aggrieved farmers apprised the Agriculture Department officials of their precarious position seeking their urgent intervention to help them resume their pre-sowing operations.
Remedial measures
Local leaders of the farmers’ wings of the CPI and the CPI (M) have mounted pressure on the authorities to initiate immediate steps to supply quality seed to the aggrieved farmers as a “remedial measure” to mitigate their woes.
The authorities have made arrangements to ensure provision of paddy seeds of requisite quantity from other stocks to the aggrieved farmers or return the money to those who insist so, sources said.
Farmers in the mandal are bearing the brunt of the unabated sale of substandard seeds of paddy and maize, alleged CPI Bonakal mandal secretary Thota Ramanjaneyulu.
Around 25 kg of paddy seeds purchased by farmers of Tutikuntla, Govindapuram, Ravinuthala and Brahmanapalli villages from the local PACSs have failed to germinate, he charged pointing out that over 200 chilli farmers suffered huge losses due to the spurious chilli seed menace last year.
“The oft-repeated claims of the persons at the helm of affairs about transforming Telangana into the seed bowl of the country stands belied,” he alleged wondering how could the paddy seeds authorised by the State nodal agency concerned fail to “germinate.”
Samples of the paddy seeds of the BPT 5204 variety from the particular seed lot had been sent to the designated State laboratory for the physical purity analysis and other relevant tests, Joint Director of Agriculture, Khammam, Jhansi Lakshmi Kumari, told The Hindu.
Quality paddy seeds which meets the stipulated germination rate are being supplied to farmers at a subsidised price through the PACSs, said Kotilingam, District Manager, Telangana State Seeds Development Corporation.
He stressed the need for creating proper awareness among farmers on the scientific methods of pre-germination treatment and seed bed preparation.
