H.D. Revanna, MLA and leader of the Janata Dal (Secular), on Friday alleged that the Hassan district administration had failed to provide quality seeds to potato growers. Officials of Horticulture Department had joined hands with the merchants in making only substandard seeds available to farmers in the district, he said at a press conference here.
The Deputy Commissioner had not convened the meeting of elected representatives on fixing the price of seed potatoes. “Merchants have bought seed potatos from Punjab at Rs. 200 a bag and are planning to sell them at Rs. 1,100 a bag. The officials are supporting the merchants in earning huge profits,” he alleged. The district administration had not initiated any steps to check the quality of seeds, he said. Referring to the damage to crops caused by untimely rains, he said the officials had not bothered to assess the loss and submit a report to the government to seek relief to farmers.
