Champua: Monsoon is round the corner. Farmers in Champua block of Keonjhar district have completed the preliminary fieldwork and are eager to start sowing paddy seeds. But, they are disappointed over the shortage of seeds at Champua LAMPS (Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society).
The farmers have been frequenting the LAMPS every day for over a week, but returning home dejected. It is learnt that the Odisha Seeds Corporation has no stock of some varieties sought by LAMPS.
About 15,000 farmers have a tie-up with LAMPSs which are supposed to supply high-yielding verities of seeds on subsidy. While a quintal of high-yielding paddy seed is sold for Rs 2,517 in the open market, farmers get the same for Rs 1,600 per quintal at LAMPSs.
Champua LAMPS had ordered for 300 quintals of Lalat variety; 400 quintals of Sahabhagi; 50 quintals of Khandagiri; and 20 quintals of Pratikhya. About 2,333 quintals of paddy seeds were supplied to some farmers in three phases in May. Though further order for seeds had been placed, it has not been delivered yet, it was learnt.
Every day, over 300 farmers turn up at the LAMPS unit, but return empty handed. LAMPS managing director Bibhuti Bhusan Giri said Rs 2.51 lakh was credited into the account of Odisha Seeds Corporation though RTGS, but some varieties of seeds like Lalat, Lalaswarna and Khandagiri have not been supplied to the LAMPS as yet. “The corporation has no stock of these varieties now. We are unable to supply seeds to the farmers,” he added.
Farmers demanded that the administration and the officials of the agriculture department should ensure quick supply of seeds.
PNN