Moong seeds rot, courtesy HSDC

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21

Over 4,200 quintals of moong seed worth nearly Rs 4.80 crore, which was prepared in excess of the demand, is lying unsold and getting infested with pests owing to the “lackadaisical” attitude of Haryana Seeds Development Corporation (HSDC) authorities.

Besides this, the corporation prepared Desi cotton seed this year and sent it to its regional offices for sale.

However, the HSDC is yet to fix the sale price of its seed while the season for sowing of desi cotton is already over in April and May, resulting in total loss.

As if this was not enough, the HSDC purchased wheat from farmers for preparation of seed for the next kharif season but due to the management’s failure to arrange bags, the processing of seeds is getting delayed, causing delay in payment to farmers.

Sources say that though 2,500 quintals of moong seed of the last year was lying unsold, the HSDC prepared 2,000 quintals more this year.

However, there were few takers because the HSDC fixed its rate at Rs 115 a kilogram though the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) sold it for Rs 90 a kilogram.

The sources say that the HSDC is to prepare nearly 2.5 lakh quintals of wheat seed for the next kharif season. The HSDC purchases wheat from farmers who are already supplied seed by it at the time of sowing and pays them 18.5 per cent over and above the MSP of wheat.

While 85 per cent of the MSP (at present Rs 1,625 per quintal) is paid at the time of purchase, the rest is paid once the processed seed has been tested in laboratories. “Owing to negligence of the authorities concerned, the process of tenders for high density poly ethylene (HDPE) bags for packing three varieties of wheat is yet to be completed while jute bags needed for eight to 10 other varieties are yet to arrive, leading to delay in processing and delay in payment to farmers,” alleges Raj Kumar Beniwal and Bhagwan Dass, both elected directors of the HSDC.

They say that the HSDC is suffering heavy losses, besides problems to farmers due to a lackadaisical attitude of the authorities and demand fixation of liability for it.

RK Solanki, Managing Director of the HSDC, however, says that ‘moong’ seed was prepared in anticipation of demand from the state Agriculture Department, but no demand came forth. He says nearly 300 quintals of seed has been sold and some more is expected to be liquidated. He justifies higher rates of seed and claims that it is of better quality.

Solanki adds the price of desi cotton seed could not be fixed in time because of lack of inputs regarding costs from the field.

As for bags, Solanki says while jute bags will arrive in seven days, the process of tenders for HDPE bags will be completed by next week. He claims that this delay will not affect farmers because they will get their payments only after the testing process is over.