Inquiry ordered into supply of substandard seeds to farmers

Kendrapara: An inquiry has been ordered into the supply of alleged substandard seeds to farmers in Kendrapara district in the aftermath of Cyclone Phailin .

"An inquiry has been ordered into the supply of alleged substandard vegetable seeds. The horticulture department has been asked to expeditiously probe the charge and submit a fact-finding report," Kendrapara Collector Ratnakar Rout said.

Himanshu Sekhar Acharya, Assistant Director, Horticulture department said, "We have received allegations about the substandard seeds. A report has been submitted in this regard to the competent authorities."

A Mumbai-based private supplier had provided the seeds.

After Cyclone Phailin in October last, Odisha Agro Industry Corporation provided 24 types of vegetable seeds to around 5000 vegetable growers of Kendrapara district. The seeds were nominally priced, he said.

Vegetable growers of the district were happy to receive seeds at highly subsidised price. But their joy was short lived. Toiling out in the field, they managed to grow the plants but their labour did not bear fruit.

"My hard work has gone in waste. Even after three months of waiting, the plants are not bearing fruit. By borrowing money, I had taken up vegetable cultivation. I am shattered," rued Hemanta Kar vegetable grower from Daragochi village under Marsaghai block.

Hemanta had sowed tomato, brinjal, ladies finger, bitter gourd and cabbage seeds.

Farmers from this part of the state bore the brunt of the cyclone.

"Instead of helping us out, the government agencies have multiplied the woes of the vegetable growers," a farmer said.

The state government agencies have let the farmers down by supplying spurious seeds, charged the representative of district Krushak Sabha, Gayadhar Dhal.