Agitated over the ‘spurious chilli seeds menace’, which has inflicted huge losses on scores of chilli growers in several mandals in Khammam division, the Telangana Rythu Sangham is gearing up to launch an agitation to press for deterrent action against the errant seed dealers and for compensation to the aggrieved chilli farmers.
Close on the heels of widespread protests by the aggrieved chilli farmers of Singarayapalem in Konijerla mandal three days ago, scores of chilli growers organised similar protests in Chintakani, Bonakal, Wyra, Kusumanchi and a few other mandals in the last two days seeking compensation for the failure of their chilli crops due to ‘fake seeds’.
The Agriculture Department officials seized a seed shop selling fake seeds in Wyra on Friday in the wake of the agitations.
The Telangana Rythu Sangham which spearheaded the cause of aggrieved chilli farmers of Singarayapalem is planning to organise an agitation at the district-level to highlight the plight of the chilli farmers.
The spurious chilli seeds supplied by some errant dealers to the farmers led to the stunted growth of chilli crop in several mandals in both Khammam and Kothagudem divisions this season, State secretary, Telangana Rythu Sangham Nunna Nageswara Rao said.
The government should order a detailed inquiry into the incident considering the enormity of losses suffered by hundreds of chilli farmers in over 1000 acres in the district, Mr. Rao demanded.
The Telangana Rythu Sangham will organise a district-level agitation to mount pressure on the government curb the fake seed menace and provide compensation to the aggrieved chilli farmers, he added.
