TIRUCHY: During a review meeting at Kallanai (Grand Anaicut) on Sunday, Chief Minister M K Stalin instructed district collectors of Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchy and Pudukkottai to ensure the availability of agriculture inputs including seeds, fertilizers for Kuruvai and samba paddy cultivation. But farmers in Tiruchy say there is a shortage of seed supply and allege that they remain heavily dependent on private agencies for seeds, with the agriculture department supplying only around 30% of the district’s total requirement.
According to official sources, while approximately 450 to 500 tonnes of certified paddy seeds are distributed annually by the agriculture department, it still falls short of meeting the demand for the current target area of 37,000 to 40,000 acres.
On the pricing front, a marginal cost difference separates government-supplied and private seeds. Seeds available at agriculture extension centres are priced between Rs 39 and Rs 44 per kg, and older varieties (10 years or more) are offered at a 50% subsidy, bringing the cost down by Rs 20 per kg for eligible farmers. In contrast, seeds sold by private agencies cost slightly higher, ranging between Rs 42 and Rs 45 per kg, without any subsidy benefit.
The seeds distributed by the department are processed and certified through a meticulous system. Breeder seeds sourced from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) are multiplied into foundation seeds at two farms in Neikuppai Puthur and Puthurpalayam. These are cultivated by select farmers, harvested, and sent to five Seed Processing Centres in the district for purification and certification before being distributed via 25 agriculture extension centres. The varieties recommended for kuruvai and samba cultivation are CO 51, CO 55, ASD16, ASD21, TPS5 and ADT36.
However, farmers say this system alone is insufficient. “We are forced to rely on private agencies due to inadequate stock. But some of these traders sell uncertified seeds labelled as ‘fine quality’ which ultimately harms us,” said N Veerasekaran, state spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh. He urged the department to ensure all private seeds are properly certified and suitable for varying cultivation conditions.
Officials estimate that 30%-35% of the district’s seed needs are met through private agencies, while 20%-25% comes from seed exchanges among farmers themselves.
Responding to concerns, P Nalini, deputy director of the seed certification department, clarified that all seeds-whether from private or government, must undergo rigorous certification before being sold. “We certify notified varieties based on key standards, including 80% germination rate, 98% physical purity, and proper moisture content. There’s no separate variety for irrigated or rainfed regions; the same seed can be grown in both, depending on adaptability,” she said.