Hoarders, black marketeers of seeds will not be spared: Officials

Anantapur: District Collector S Sathyanarayana and Vigilance SP Ramanjaneyulu, in a statement, warned hoarders and black marketeers of subsidised groundnut seed of stringent action. They also warned beneficiaries of the scheme particularly farmers against misusing the government benefits and selling the seed in black market as it amounted to diluting the scheme.

The Collector referred to the 830 bags of subsidised seed caught by vigilance authorities and added that the erring persons will not be spared. He said that the farmers should not get disheartened at the delay of agencies in seed supplies, as there is scope for sowing until July 15.

At a review meeting here on Saturday, he said that the sowing operations can go on until July 15 and farmers can engage in sowing in view of the monsoon getting activated. The department had zeroed in on five seed supply agencies for supplying seed to the order of 2.01 lakh quintals of seed but have so far disbursed 91,316 quintals of groundnut seed in the district.

Farmers had launched agriculture operations including tilling of their lands as many parts of the district experienced showers during the past week, Farmers who completed tilling of their lands are availing the government seed supply seed which is given on 40 per cent subsidy.

The agencies engaged in disbursal of groundnut seed include AP Seeds Limited - 1.25 lakh quintals, AP Oil Fed - 1.46 lakh quintals and HIL- 5000 quintals, AP Oil Fed has supplied seeds to farmers in Amadagur, Somandepalle, Nallamada, Nallacheruvu, Penukonda, Vidapanakallu, Tadimarri, Ramagiri, Battalapalle, Raptadu,Shinganamala, Amarapuram, Chilamattur, C.K.Palle, Atmakur, Kuderu Uravakonda, Gorantla, Gooty Kalyandurgam, Vajrakarur, Dharmavaram, Guntakal,Mudigubba and Dharmavaram mandals. District Collector S.Sathyanarayana told 'The Hans India' that the seed supply is being speeded up and will reach all farmers in time.