In Karnal, misuse of seed subsidy suspected

Parveen Arora

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Karnal, July 12

The Karnal Agriculture Department is struggling to trace nearly 1,600 acres for which ‘dhaincha’ seeds, a type of green manure, were distributed to farmers.

Due to wrong mobile phone numbers and incorrect details, the department is unable to identify the area where these seeds have been sown.

Officials in Karnal and Kaithal districts intensified field verification following reports that farmers did not sow the subsidised ‘dhaincha’ seeds or sold them in the market. Farmers received these seeds at an 80 per cent subsidy from the Haryana Seed Development Corporation (HSDC), but, as per the sources, several of them have not used the seeds, raising concerns about potential misuse of government resources.

Dr Wazir Singh, Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA), Karnal, said teams of 70 persons had been assigned the work of field verification for 33,000 acres, for which ‘dhaincha’ seeds were distributed. “Of the 33,000 acres, we have verified the farmers who have cultivated this green manure on 31,400 acres. We could not do verification of nearly 1,600 acres due to incorrect details,” he said.

The HSDC provides ‘dhaincha’ seeds at subsidised rates, promoting it as an effective green manure that enhances soil properties and reduces urea usage by 15-20 per cent.

Officials from the Kaithal Agriculture Department said they had received a complaint from Cheeka block of non-cultivation of the seed, prompting further field verification.