Notwithstanding the State Government’s aim to create record in paddy seed procurement, the renovation works of seed processing plants are yet to be
completed.
Because of the delay, the seed farmers are now planning to sell the seed at mandis instead of selling it to the Government.
While the State needs 6-7 lakh quintals of paddy seed per year, the Government had procured over 7 lakh quintals in the previous year. As per the official estimation, after providing paddy seed to the farmers the Government sold the remaining seed to other States.
However, a major problem has been witnessed in paddy procurement this fiscal. The State Seeds Corporation (SSC) that has been assigned for paddy procurement is managing 32 seed processing plants.
But the renovation works of over 16 plants are underway. Farmers are waiting for processing of their seed due to unfinished renovation
work of the plants in Cuttack, Jajpur Road, Kendrapada and Bhubaneswar.
According to farmers, the renovation works should have been started long before the Government goes for procurement. However, the move came on December 11 last year by the SSC.
Notably, the Government provides paddy seed to
farmers at a subsidised rate and purchases the seeds at a higher cost.
The processing is required for keeping the quality of seeds.
The Government also returns the wastes and substandard paddy to farmers after cleaning the seeds in the processing plants.
Since the renovation works at the processing plants are yet to be completed, farmers are opting for selling seeds at the mandis instead of waiting till completion of the renovation works.
If the processing plants’ functioning is not resumed at the earliest, the Government will fail to achieve the target and the farmers will bear
the loss. Besides, the Government will be bound to purchase paddy seeds from other States at higher prices, say farmers.