Seed seller yeilds, pays compensation to farmer

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 19 JAN: While the agriculture department in Malda is apparently reluctant to take responsibility of compensating poor farmers of Gazole and Old Malda, a state agriculture department licensed seed seller, Mr. Achinta Sarkar, who is accused of having sold spurious seeds to the farmers, has agreed to compensate the victims.

To prevent the agriculture department from cancelling his license Mr Sarkar held a meeting with the victim farmer and agreed to compensate Rs 1,500 for each bag of seeds he had sold.

However, he has attached some conditions.

According to the farmers Mr Sarkar has asked them to give in writing that they did not have any complaint against him.

The victim farmers had – with backing from the CPI-ML (Liberation) – submitted a memorandum to the agriculture department officials demanding compensation from the licensed seed seller.

According to them, the seller and his agents had deceived them by selling fake ‘aman’ paddy seeds six months ago, which had cost them dear.

Two CPI-ML (Liberation) members – Mr Emanuel Hembram and Mr Jayanta Das were present along with the farmers yesterday during the negotiation with the accused seed seller.

According to the CPI-ML (Liberation) state committee leaders, Mr. Nabakumar Biswas , the farmers have agreed to receive the compensation. “The farmers would give the accused seed sell money receipt against compensation but they would not withdraw the complaint against him”, said Mr Biswas.

“Seven more farmers of Gazole, who had lodged complaint with the agriculture department against Mr Sarkar, would also demand compensation from him. We would latter demand cancellation of his license”, he added.

It is learnt Mr Sarkar had sold 40 bags of seeds through his agent Mr Bhanu Das to the farmers in 8-Mile in Old Malda. It has been decided he would pay Rs 60,000 in all to the farmers on Friday. The agriculture department started an inquiry against Mr Sarkar on the basis of the farmers’ complaint and the agriculture development officer in Gazole Mr Tushar Roy has submitted the inquiry report to the sub divisional agriculture officer. The deputy director of the agriculture department in Malda, Mr Satinath Palit, said: “The department will take action according to government guide lines on the basis of the inquiry report”. (END)