Spurious chilli seeds put farmers in distress

​Vinukonda/ Bollapalli: There appears no end to the menace of fake mirchi seed in Guntur district which boasts of having its ‘son of the soil’ Prattipati Pulla Rao as Minister for Agriculture. Massive crop losses in over 600 acres surfaced in Vinukonda and Bollapalli mandals in the district afresh a few days ago, leaving the growers in distress conditions.

The government claimed to have put an end to the streak of mirchi crop losses by acting tough against the seed companies last year. Flower dropping was observed in mirchi plantations in some villages under Vinukonda and Bollapalli mandals leading to a sharp decline in the yield.

In some other areas it was noticed that the crop was harvested with fruits devoid of seed resulting in a weight loss. A senior official from the Agriculture department told The Hans India that a team of scientists were being deployed to the affected areas in a day or two on a fact-finding mission.

Mandal level Agriculture Officers visited the areas in the last two days and reportedly concluded that the losses were reported in eight villages under Bollapalli mandal alone because of supply of fake seeds pertaining to the three hybrid varieties – Teja, Sun Star and Lakshmi 90.

Farmers complained that they were taken for a ride by the false promises of the seed companies for 30 quintals per acre. In some areas there was not even a single quintal harvested, they lamented.

The alleged blame game between the Agriculture department and Horticulture department over monitoring of seed supply is said to be the main cause for the malady. Govinda Nayak, a grower from Ravulapuram in Bollapalli mandal, said investments incurred on mirchi cultivation for six months had gone waste leaving him in debts.

The supply of fake seed resulting in crop losses in mirchi exposed the alleged failure to monitor the seed companies last year. Three farmers reportedly committed suicide in distress in Medikonduru, Tidikonda and Chilakaluripet.

The government however stated that the deaths could not be linked to the fake seed issue. The cabinet resolved to initiate criminal cases against two seed companies and Managing Director of one of the tainted companies was arrested.

The government issued a GO, directing the seed companies to pay a compensation of Rs 4.3cr for the farmers who raised Bramhaputra variety and Rs 1.25cr for Jeeva JCH-802 variety. The companies moved the court, challenging the GO which denied relief to the victims.

The lacunae in the Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seed Control Order, 1963 which failed to make any mention of compensation to farmers by seed companies in case of supply of fake seed came handy for the accused seed suppliers. P Radhakrishna of AP Rytu Sangham faulted the Central government for its failure to amend the Seeds Act with a provision for compensation.

Although the State government sent a proposal to the Centre for amending the Act some five years ago it is still gathering dust.

By: T Narasimha Rao