Farmers threaten to launch stir

Kirti Pande / TNN / Jun 3, 2008, 03:24 IST

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Amravati region has been facing acute seeds' shortage, especially soyabean, which are distributed as part of the prime minister's package.

AMRAVATI: The issue of shortage of seeds has started to take an ugly turn. On Monday, around 500 farmers of Bhatkuli barged into the office of director general of Vasantrao Chavan Shetkari Swawalamban Mission demanding soyabean seeds.
However, when they didn't find the DG they vented their ire on his chair and threatened to launch an agitation if they didn't get the seeds soon.
Amravati region has been facing acute seeds' shortage, especially soyabean, which are distributed as part of the prime minister's package.
Sources said, about 500 farmers assembled at Agriculture Development Office in Amravati on Monday to collect soyabean seeds. But the district agriculture development officer (DADO) M S Masle told them that there was an acute shortage of seeds and hence not available.

Masle told them that instead of soyabean, the farmers could take maize, tur, moong or paddy seeds. However, the farmers wanted soyabean as it is a cash crop of kharif season.
DADO's denial disappointed the farmers. Thereafter, they met MLA Sanjay Band, who advised them to meet B V Gopal Reddy, director general, Vasantrao Chavan Shetkari Swawalamban Mission.
So the farmers went to the office of director general of VCSSM but he was outstation on official work. The absence of director general further irked the farmers and showing their anger they brought the DG's chair out of the cabin to express their show their resentment. The farmers were in no mood to listen to the additional commissioner Arun Dongre who was present there.

When contacted Masle said, "The farmers said that they received the requisite permit to get soyabean seeds and must get the same. But as there is an acute seed shortage we are simply helpless. Instead of soyabean we were ready to give other seeds but they were not willing to take those,"said Masle.
Masle further said if Mahabij supplies soyabean seeds then they will immediately give it to the farmers."
Masle informed that in Amravati district 3.5 lakh farmers are account holders and the demand for seeds is about one lakh quintal. Mahabij provides 65,000 quintal out of which 63,000 are soyabean seeds and 2,000 other seed.
"According to the Prime Minister's package, a farmer is eligible for a bagful (30 kgs) of soyabean seeds, which is sufficient for one acre. For remaining one-and-half acres he will be provided other seeds like tur, maize etc,"Masle said.
All attempts to contact Reddy proved futile.

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