Uncertified paddy seeds find favour with farmers

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 22

Uncertified paddy seeds are in high demand this season even though they cost three times more than the certified varieties.

Reason: The farmers are ‘tricked’ by seed dealers by claiming that the uncertified varieties are high yielding and mature early.

Some farmer unions had raised objections to this practice in the past and the department too had initiated action, but the uncertified seeds continue to be available in the open market.

Ranjit Singh, a farmer from Gidderbaha, said, “I have sown uncertified paddy seed CR-212 variety for transplantation in one acre on trial basis. It cost me Rs 95 per kg, whereas the certified seeds are available at about Rs 35 per kg. I bought it from a famous seed dealer who did not give me an invoice but assured high yield, he added.

Many farmers in my village had sown it last year and got good results. They did not even face any problem while selling the crop. This is the reason behind the high demand for uncertified seeds this season,” he said.

Meanwhile, some other farmers said that if a genuine survey is conducted, the department would come to know the ground reality of high demand of such seeds.

Beant Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, said, “I recently warned some farmers in an awareness camp, but they objected saying that high yield was their sole motive. Still we have issued notices to some dealers.”.

Jasbir Singh Bains, Director, Agriculture, said, “After getting field reports on this count, we stopped the sale of seeds not certified by PAU at nearly 15 shops in Bathinda and 10 shops in Mansa districts.”

“We can’t take strict action against the dealers since they might have certification from the Centre or from other states. We have warned farmers that if they face any problem during procurement, the government will not be responsible,” he added.

On reasons behind seed companies not opting for certification, he said, “I can’t comment, but it seems the companies are unwilling to pay the mandatory fee to get certification of a seed variety,” he opined.