Sowing of uncertified seeds a cause of worry in Shivamogga

Such seeds have been sown on more than 3,000 acres in Shikaripur and Sorab

Crisis time:Mallappa (right) a farmer from Udagani, near Shiralakopa, showing the poor quality seeds.— Photo: VAIDYA

The failure of maize seeds sown by Mallappa, a farmer from Udugani village in Shikaripur taluk, to germinate has exposed the racket that is active in selling uncertified seeds.

Following the pre-monsoon showers in the region, Mallappa had sown 35 kg of maize seeds on his five acre land in Udugani. The seeds were purchased from a trader in Ranibennur of Haveri district. Usually, maize seeds germinate by eight days of sowing. However, in the case of Mallappa, more than 90 per cent of the seeds he had sown failed to germinate even 15 days after sowing. He told The Hindu that the seedlings that sprouted from the remaining seeds also died.

Mallappa, who is indulged in bagair hukum farming, had borrowed money from his friends for sowing. Owing to paucity of money, he had purchased uncertified seeds that were available at a much lower price than certified seeds. Now, with the seeds failing to germinate, Mallappa has undertaken fresh sowing.

According to an estimate, uncertified seeds have been sown on more than 3,000 acres of land in Shikaripur and Sorab taluks till date this year. As uncertified sowing seeds are released to the market without subjecting them to necessary processing and chemical treatment, they are prone to pest attacks and the chances of germination were also less.

Certified maize seeds are priced at Rs. 200 a kg while uncertified seeds are available for Rs. 60 a kg. Madhusudan, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture, said that several farmers in Shikaripur and Sorab taluks had incurred loss owing to sowing of uncertified seeds last year.

In Ginivala village, uncertified seeds were sown on more than 20 acres of land. In case of crop failure after sowing certified seeds, farmers can claim compensation on the basis of the bill provided to them against the purchase. As bills are not issued for purchase of unauthorised seeds, farmers cannot claim compensation if their crops fail, he said.

The Department of Agriculture had undertaken an intense campaigning in May to create awareness among farmers on uncertified seeds. The department had written to the gram panchayats over the issue. The officials had even visited the fields and had requested the farmers not to use uncertified sowing seeds. He said that those engaged in selling of uncertified seeds can be punished under the Karnataka Seeds Act and under The Essential Commodities Act, 1955.