HUBBALLI: Farming fraternity in the state is baffled by the rumours about the arrival of mysterious Chinese seeds that are allegedly harmful.
Their worries have doubled since the state agriculture department issued a press release alarming farmers against receiving or using seed packets from unidentified sources..
Farmer leaders are, however, criticising the government warning as an escapism from its responsibility to monitor the seeds and alert the Union government and departments concerned like postal, police and customs.
The press release, issued through joint directors of all districts, says if such seeds are sown, crop will be destroyed in a month.
“Farmers in England and Canada have received such seeds while America has traced 14 species of flowers grown by such seeds.
Senders of such seeds could not be traced.
However, usage of such seeds made the land infertile.
So farmers should reject such packets.
If they receive it, they should burn them with cover or should inform nearby agriculture office or police station,” the release read.
Siddu Teji, a farmer leader in North Karnataka, said that farmers are already under stress after Covid lockdown and financial crisis.
“Now this warning has created a lot of confusion and we are now suspecting the quality of seeds that are available in the market.
It’s the responsibility of the agriculture department to prevent the menace of mysterious seeds.
Department should verify the quality of seeds,” he added.
Sustainable agri expert Suresh Kanjarpane wondered how packets could arrive all the way from China to farmers directly.
“If some miscreants from China are sending such seeds, how could they get farmers’ postal addresses? Another concern is that such consignments arrive through flights.
If so, then what is central customs doing there? If state government has come across such incidents, it should alert central customs, postal and police departments,” he said.
“There is no need of alerting farmers on this issue as farmers are well aware that our seeds sector is vibrant and efficient with the inflow of government corporations, research institutions, multi-national companies and local seeds conserving groups,” said T N Prakash Kammardi, former chairman, Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission.