Spurious seeds: TDP seeks action against companies

HYDERABAD: TDP TS unit working president A Revanth Reddy alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was not taking any action against the suppliers of spurious seeds in the state “as the government was working hand in glove with the suppliers of such seeds.”“Because of spurious seeds, thousands of farmers in the state incur huge losses, every year. The latest example for this is farmers belonging to Kalluru and Kusumanchi mandals in Khammam district, who have lost paddy crop due to spurious seeds,” he said.

Along with Revanth Reddy, TDP TS unit president L Ramana and other leaders, submitted a memorandum to agriculture commissioner M Jagan Mohan here on Friday seeking action against the suppliers of fake seeds. They sought a compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre, for the farmers who lost crop due to fake seeds. Later, addressing mediapersons, Revanth came down heavily on the Chief Minister, saying, “It appears that the CM is transforming the state into a safe haven for spurious seeds’ suppliers, instead of transforming it into seed bowl of the world.” 

According to Revanth, the then agriculture commissioner Priyadarshini had enquired into the sale of spurious seeds in Mahbubnagar district and issued notices to eight erring seeds companies, asking to compensate the affected farmers, by paying them 60 per cent of the amount they had invested on the crop.
“However, instead of implementing the recommendations made by Priyadarshini’s committee, the CM transferred the officer from the post,” he criticised.