Subsidy a boon to companies than ryots

Srikakulam: The State government subsidies on maize seeds are giving a major boost to the seed companies, distributors and officials concerned than the actual farmers. The government planned to supply maize seeds on subsidy price to farmers during rabi season with an aim to encourage them to cultivate crop and to enhance its cultivated area by reducing paddy crop area. 

In the name of subsidy on maize seed, AP Seeds Corporation (APSC) fixed the seed price based on its manufacturing company more than its actual prevailing market price. For pioneer-3546 seed variety, the actual price of 4 kgs quantity bag is Rs 1,050 but APSC fixed its price as Rs 1,460.

Subsidy is Rs 100 per kg seed and Rs 400 is subsidy for four kgs bag and farmers have paid Rs 1,060 which is Rs 10 higher than its actual price in 2017 and 2018 rabi season. Actual price of  Kaveri bumper 50 seed variety is Rs 800 but APSC fixed its rate as Rs 1,260 per four kgs bag after subsidy farmers have paid Rs 860 which is Rs 60 more than its actual price.

The farmers are not got benefitted with subsidy scheme as claimed by officials on subsidy in the name of farmers by showing the same seed variety delivery five to six times and received subsidy five to six times on one seed bag. Subsidy seeds were also not reaching the farmers as agricultural officials allegedly diverting them to local traders in the name of farmers by mentioning their aadhaar numbers.

The officials are diverting the seeds as biometric finger prints of farmers are not required. Currently, maize crop is being cultivated in five mandals, Ranastalam, Laveru, G Sigadam, Ponduru and Rajam but the seed was delivered in the name of farmers in all 38 mandals across the district which is diverted to traders.

“During previous years, we have not supplied maize seed to farmers directly and procured seed quantity from companies as per agriculture department indent,” APSC Srikakulam district manager  P Balakrishna said. Joint Director for Agriculture K Ch Appala Swamy and Deputy Director for Agriculture PDV Ratna Kumar said, “We are adopting e-crop system and farmers bio-metric finger prints are needed to curb irregularities.”