Officials gear up for distribution of seeds on subsidy in Khammam

Khammam: Agriculture Department has embarked on distribution of seeds on subsidy through online system from this kharif season in the district. This measure is aimed at keeping a check on irregularities in distribution of seeds and also selling fake seedss to the farmers.

The department has kept ready 42,431 quintals of seeds of various crops. Of this, paddy seeds accounted for 22,287 quintals. The web-based subsidised seeds distribution system (SSDS) is designed and developed for the welfare of farmers, the officials explained.

Agriculture officer Saidulu said farmer may select the seeds they need at a nearby sale point. They should show their pattadar passbooks and Aadhaar card to the officials at the sale point. After selected the seeds they require, the system will display the price of the seeds. On confirmation, a permit slip will be generated, and an SMS will be sent to the farmers’ mobile phone.

Farmer are required to show the permit slip or SMS sent though the system at the sale point to buy the seeds. The system generates various reports required by the officers at various levels, he added.

It is to be noted that the many farmers opted for cotton crop for cultivation during this kharif season in the district. As per official estimation, the area under cotton crop could be 1.12 lakh hectares followed by paddy in 67,000 hectares in this kharif season.

Due to shortage of cotton seeds in Khammam district, many farmers are going to Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh for purchasing of cotton seedss.

Additional Director of the Agriculture Department Shoban Babu said a separate action plan is prepared for distributing around 42,431 quintals of seeds on subsidy through online during the Kharif season.

Stringent actions will be taken against the seeds and pesticide dealers as per Seeds Act and Pesticide Act if they created artificial scarcity of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.