‘Inferior seed’ distribution stopped in Malda

MALDA 3 DEC: Political pressure more often than not is the “open sesame” word in this country or else, why would pressure from the Malda Zilla sabhadipati and a political person succeed in forcing the state government undo its own deed when a similar suggestion on the same subject by a senior state government official was ignored?

The issue in hand concerns wheat mini-kits supplied by the State Seed Corporation in November for the Aila affected farmers in Malda district. The agriculture department has ultimately declared the seeds are of inferior quality and has stopped its distribution but not before the MZP sabhadipati Mrs Sabina Yeasmin lodged a complaint and asked the department to halt distribution.

Strangely but, the deputy director, agriculture department in Malda, Mr S Palit had earlier detected the same and had informed his higher authority of the matter. Though it had been decided that the inferior seeds would be replaced soon, nothing happened thereafter. The MZP sabhadipati's effort, however, did the trick.

It is learnt that the SSC had supplied 21,000 mini-kits of wheat to Malda district in November. According to the MZP sabhadipati, the seeds are insect infested. The agriculture department officials have acknowledged the problem.

The MZP sabhadipati said that she had urged the agriculture department to distribute the mini-kits in some blocks including Kaliachak where she lives. “The farmers found out that insects had damaged the seeds. Under the circumstances, I have asked the agriculture department to stop distributing the affected seeds,” she said.

Coming late, the decision has landed the agriculture department officials in Malda in a soup. According to the officials, the sowing time for wheat is almost over. “The delay makes it almost impossible to complete distribution before the sowing period ends,” they said. ;Manas R Bannerjee

Book Fair
MALDA, 3 DEC: The 21st Malda District Book Fair and Exhibition would be held at the Malda College ground from 8 to 14 December. Eminent writer Mr Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay would inaugurate the book fair. ;SNS
1 dead in turf war
MALDA, 3 DEC: One was shot dead and five others injured in a clash between two groups of criminals at Majampur under Kailachak police station this evening. The deceased has been identified as Nuhu Sheikh (27), who was deaf and dumb. Police personnel were also injured when criminals were hurling bombs. Police rushed to the spot to control the situation. ;SNS