BHUBANESWAR: Despite a belated monsoon and the peak of the kharif sowing season, the state’s certified paddy seed distribution has remained far below the recommended level, raising concerns over seed quality, crop productivity and the effectiveness of the state’s seed supply system.
The Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC) has sold only about 1.22 lakh quintals of certified paddy seeds compared to 1.45 lakh quintals during the corresponding period last year. Although the corporation has programmed sale of 1.65 lakh quintals during the current kharif season, the target itself falls well short of the state’s actual requirement.
Paddy being cultivated over nearly 37 lakh hectares during this kharif season, the state’s seeds requirement is estimated at 10 lakh quintals at an average seed rate of 30 kg per hectare. With the recommended seed replacement rate (SRR) of 35 per cent, the state should ideally use about 3.5 lakh quintals of certified seed. Even if OSSC achieves its programmed sale, the SRR would reach only 16.5 per cent, less than half the prescribed level.
Sources in OSSC attributed the decline in certified seed sales to inadequate government support and poor cooperation from field-level agriculture officials. They alleged that private seed traders have gained increasing influence, with insufficient promotion of certified seeds through the official distribution network.
The sources further alleged that the state government has allowed primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) to sell seeds supplied by private traders without verification of quality. Unverified seeds are being sold even through grocery and paan shops under the brand name of ‘Trump’ and ‘Obama’ in many districts without effective enforcement, reflecting weak market surveillance as many district agriculture officers (DAOs) are allegedly in cahoots with unscrupulous private traders. Sale of seeds without any valid trading licence is a cognisable offence under Seeds Act, 1966.
The other reason attributed to lack of interest of farmers to buy seeds supplied by OSSC is the DBT (direct benefit transfer) scheme of the government under which farmers have to pay the cost of the seeds upfront to get the subsidy later. The online registration on the Krushak Odisha portal for purchase of paddy is another deterrent factor for sale of seeds, said an OSSC officer.
Adding to the concern, OSSC sources said the corporation’s managing director has been deputed to Puri on Rath Yatra duty for more than a month and his prolonged absence has affected seed sales, crop diversification initiatives and other operational activities at a time when kharif operations are in full swing following widespread monsoon rains across the state.