Distribution of uncertified paddy seeds worry farmers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 16 2021: Several farmers have been left dejected as short duration paddy seeds (Angan Phou) they collected from state agriculture department are yet to bloom even after 125 days of sowing the seeds.

Meanwhile, farmers have demanded adequate compensation while alleging that short duration paddy seeds supplied by agriculture department to them were procured from an unauthorised company and seeds were found uncertified.

As per informed sources, paddy seeds to be provided by the department to farmers are to be collected from ICAR or Central Agricultural University (CAU) and certified by the two institutions and a cabinet decision in this regard was taken too.

However, short duration paddy seeds supplied by the department to farmers namely RCM-12 turned out to be purchased from a private producer company.

This has raised eyebrow among farmers as to how could the government allow the department to purchase paddy seeds from a private producer company and who certified paddy seeds produced by the company.

As shown by some farmers, package of the paddy seeds does not have any label or tag.

With high hope of double cropping, farmers purchased the short duration paddy seeds (Angan Phou) at high price but supply of uncertified seeds by the department not only gives contradictory result but also dashed their hope.

LOUSAL president Churamani inspected paddy fields in Bishnupur district where some farmers sowed Angan Phou and questioned as to why the department provided uncertified paddy seeds to farmers.

He further asked as to why the department does not realise money, time and labour wasted by farmers in cultivating Angan Phou.

According to Churamani, farmers purchased short duration paddy seeds from state agriculture department at Rs 1,800 and the department also told farmers that cultivation period of this paddy variety is only 110 days.

However, there is no sign of flowering after 125 days, he said adding that the department is yet to send experts to paddy fields for inspection till date.

By looking at the package, one can confirm that the paddy seeds supplied by the department were not produced by ICAR or CAU and there is no certification tag, he added.

Asking as to how the department procured the uncertified paddy seeds, Churamani said that the act of the department indeed was a challenge to farmers and government should adequately compensate farmers for the loss.

Meanwhile, an expert informed that foundation seeds with label must be collected from an authorised dealer and plant the same for collection of seeds if really wanted to provide certified seeds to farmers and certification agency needs to get register for production of seeds.

For this purpose, the department has a certification cell but the cell is yet to function.

For production of certified seeds, it is very much necessary to collect known seeds and the paddy fields where certified seeds are to be cultivated must be inspected by an expert team right from the time of ploughing and sowing till harvest and packaging as well.

The team should also do germination test by collecting sample and germination percentage should reach 98 to finally consider the seeds as certified.

Comment