Farmers demonstrate demanding compensation for fake paddy seeds

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 7 JAN: Backed by the CPI-ML (Liberation), farmers today demonstrated at Gazole demanding compensation from a licensed seed seller alleging that the seller Mr Achinta Sarkar of Gazole and his agents had deceived them by selling ‘fake’ aman paddy seeds six months ago. According to the aggrieved farmers, the production of paddy was not up to the mark as the seeds were spurious. “We have suffered incalculable financial loss because of the deceit. The seed seller will have to compensate us,” the agitators claimed.

Some farmers under the banner of Pashchim Banga Krishak Samiti, backed by the CPI-ML (Liberation) had on 24 December submitted a deputation on the issue to the Gazole agriculture development officer Mr Tushar Kanti Roy, who in turn had instructed the authorised seed seller Mr Sarkar to stop sale of seeds for 21 days and keep his shop closed. He had also instructed an inquiry into the matter.

Speaking on today's development, the ADO said: “The inquiry is almost over. I will submit the report to the deputy director of the agriculture in Malda and he would initiate the necessary action.” Refusing to divulge the inquiry report he added: “It is up to the higher authority how to compensate the farmers.”

The deputy director of agriculture in Malda, Mr Satinath Palit said: “The accused seed seller will compensate the farmers. The ADO, being an inspector of a block, can take any action against an errant seed seller.”

It may be noted that in December the deputy director had instructed the Old Malda ADO Mr Swarnali Bhattacharya to lodge an FIR against another unauthorised seed seller Mr Bhanu Das for deceiving farmers by selling seeds without license. Under interrogation the unauthorised seller Mr Das had confessed that he had bought the seeds from Mr Achinta Sarkar.

The farmers have suffered huge losses after using paddy seeds procured from the local trader. The harvest was 40 per cent less than normal.

The seed sellers had used NSC ~ understood to be National Seed Corporation, stamps on the seed bags. It was, however, revealed later that NSC stood for Naresh Seed Company and not National Seed Corporation.