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Farmers suffer as spurious seeds fail
Farmers of Kadivella, Gudikal and Kanakaveedu villages in Yemmiganur and Nandavaram mandals of Kurnool district have lost Rs 2 lakh per acre because of the use of spurious cotton seeds supplied by Niyo Seeds India Pvt Ltd, Balanagar in Hyderabad, which have also been identified and confirmed by the Agriculture department officials. Ramanjaneyulu and Eranna of Adoni were the suppliers of the seeds.
Yemmiganur: Farmers of Kadivella, Gudikal and Kanakaveedu villages in Yemmiganur and Nandavaram mandals of Kurnool district have lost Rs 2 lakh per acre because of the use of spurious cotton seeds supplied by Niyo Seeds India Pvt Ltd, Balanagar in Hyderabad, which have also been identified and confirmed by the Agriculture department officials. Ramanjaneyulu and Eranna of Adoni were the suppliers of the seeds.
However, the company is willing to offer the affected farmers only Rs 25,000 per acre. Consequently, the farmers are getting ready for a legal battle to secure justice. The ryots have already been hit by scanty rainfall and fluctuating monsoon, besides debt burden because of reduction in yield.
Adding to their woes, the spurious seeds issue has hit them hard below the belt. Farmers had to suffer because of the ‘negligence’ of officials in allowing these seeds to enter the market. The issue has surfaced following the incident of a ‘corrupt’ AO choosing to let go a spurious pesticide marketed by Bayer Company. A case was also filed against the firm.
Hanumanth Reddy of Kadivella had used the spurious seeds in his two acres, while Boyi Somanna of Gudikal in one acre, Somasekhar Reddy of Kanakaveedu in Nandavaram mandal in 2.5 acres and Ramulamma in one acre. The sellers had informed the farmers that the company would pay Rs 42,000 for purchasing the seed after the yield.
They had also paid Rs 60,000 as investment for crop to two farmers. Encouraged by the offer, the farmers incurred debts to raise Rs 2 lakh as capital. They had taken good care of the crop for the last three months and spent Rs 1,000 for crossing the seeds deploying workers. But at the time of harvest, they noticed a flaw in the seed. This they brought to the notice of the two sellers as also the company.
To their utter shock, both denied having supplied the seed. With this wisdom dawned on the ryots that they have been taken for a ride. They complained to Yemmiganur Agriculture Officer (AO) Jampanna. The AO, who inspected the farmers’ fields, called scientists to take a look.
The scientists secured samples of the seed and concluded that there should be 100 per crossing among the male seeds and female flowers during the mixing, and that in the crop raised by the farmers the male and female represented 70 and 30 per cent respectively.
Hence, they concluded that crop was unfit for harvesting. Following the scientists’ report that the seeds were spurious, the officials held discussions with the company representatives. After the farmers told the company that they had spent Rs 2 lakh per acre as investment, the company said it was willing to offer only Rs 25,000 per acre. Now, the farmers want to approach the Lok Ayukta for redress.
