MAPUSA
The State government has agreed to compensate the farmers in Bardez, who were supplied with poor quality of paddy seeds, and directed the National Seeds Corporation (NSC) to replace the seeds to the farmers.
Several farmers from Aldona appeared a distressed lot due to poor quality of paddy seeds which refused to germinate.
The Director of Agriculture Nevil Alphonso after holding a discussion with all stakeholders found that the Jyoti variety of paddy seed supplied to farmers faced the problem of low germination.
Accordingly, the Zonal Agriculture Officer of Mapusa was directed to conduct a survey of affected farmers and the quantity of seed to be replaced.
“Majority of the farmers affected due to the poor quality of seeds were from Aldona and few from other areas. The seeds supplied to these farmers were certified paddy seeds but somehow took time to germinate,” said Sampatthi Dhargalkar, Zonal Agriculture Officer, Bardez.
The farmers for other areas who were affected were from Guirim, Saligao, Sangolda and Parra.
According to the Director of Agriculture, 125 farmers were found to be affected due to poor germination of the seed in the survey.
“The NSC has been directed to replace a total quantity of 8 tonnes of Jyoti seed to the farmers,” Alphonso said.
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira took up the matter with the director of agriculture after several farmers in the constituency complained of the poor quality of the paddy seed supplied by Goa Bhagyatdhar and Krishi Samruddhi.
“Considering the fact that the farmers have already sowed the land and this would necessitate the re-sowing of the fields, it would be of great help if the department can ensure that the farmers are provided with fresh seeds free of cost,” Ferreira had said, in his letter to the director of agriculture.
