The district of Koriya in recent years has recorded heavy sale of hybrid seeds of paddy. As per data available the sale of hybrid paddy seeds worth Rs 15 crore for 60,000 hectares of crop land during kharif season was recorded.
As per available facts, 15 major hybrid paddy seed companies are selling their seeds in Koriya district; many of them are American and European multi-national companies.
The Koriya district has mainly ‘Gaadarchanwar’ (medium moisturised land), ‘Bahra’ (excess moisturised land) and ‘Chanvar land’ (less water required soil). Koriya district has around 30-40% of excess moisturised land while 50 to 60% is medium moisturised land while remaining is bit dry land. The government supplied seeds is best for ‘Chanvar land’ but not for other types. The paddy ripens early but due to moisture on crop field, the farmers are then unable to harvest it. This even causes loss. The reason found was that at government level, no such effort has been made by government Agriculture Science Centres and Research Centres to prepare seeds as per prevailing soil conditions of district.
Thus, farmer are now totally relying on private multinational companies for hybrid seeds. The use of chemical fertilizers will increase and in due course affect the soil fertility. The other impact found is that district is slowly at loss of traditional species of paddy which had been its identity. The second is that farmers are also moving out of the range of base and certified paddy seeds supplied by the government and collected in traditional mode.
Even the farmers have started to feel that excessive dependency of the hybrid paddy seeds supplied by multinational companies in long run would not be beneficial for them. As before monsoon, they have to rush around in search of the seeds. Secondly, these seeds are costly also, with no other alternative as per the soil type; they are now totally relying for crop production. The production is also good.
In Koriya district as per data available and collected by Yashwant Rajwade, around 1.33 lakh hectares are being used by farmers for farming using hybrid seeds. The consumption of hybrid seed per year is around Rs 12 to Rs 15 crore. Agriculture department provides treated seeds of around Rs 3 crore in cash or through exhibition to farmers.
When the reason search, it came surprising for all. Company agents span over the districts before start of monsoon and approach each village before the government commence to provide seeds to the farmers. So, farmers purchase them before through the agents or employees of these companies.
Government provides the seeds to the farmers but the government ground level staffs do not follow up with the farmers. Timely intervention and advice is also lacking. This lacuna is filled by agents and employees of multinational companies have developed their own data bases of farmers and their needs. They keep regular touch with farmers and visit the crop field. All information regarding the use of pesticides, irrigation requirement upto harvesting. In villages, they also hold ‘Choupal’ to advice the farmers; this had developed a faith on them and the hybrid seed companies.
It is not that government agriculture department does not provide hybrid seeds. But for last two-three years government is also providing hybrid seeds. But it is not as per the demand of local farmers. These hybrid paddy seeds are not notified. Thus, the farmers have lost faith in these seeds purchased from cooperative committees. Few years before the farmers having cropped the hybrid paddy seeds has to face failed crop.
Identity of Koriya: Jeeraphul and Bisni
Koriya district was earlier identified for its Jeeraphul and Bisni kinds of paddy which were traditional. It was also highly scented. The traditional farmers feel that if agriculture department once again introduce these varieties in the district, then it would be a historical step. The farmers should be provided seeds are lesser cost which is a requirement in present scenario. This would also reduce the total dependence of hybrid paddy seeds in district. It would also help in better production and farmers getting their due income.
Devendra Kumar Ramteke, Deputy Director, Agriculture department, district Koriya says, “local farmers should not abandon their traditional seeds at any condition. Through ‘Shree pattern’ the traditional paddy seeds can generate production equal to hybrid. All the hybrid paddy seeds being sold in district is of foreign companies. The dependency of farmers on the foreign companies’ hybrid paddy seeds is on rise which is pushing the traditional paddy production to corner.”
He adds, “Hybrid paddy seeds in adverse conditions is unfit for production, if there is shortage of rains, then farmers would have to incur heavy losses. Yes, we are at government level does not have resources for publicity but private companies take benefit of this lacunae. They attract farmers through pamphlets, poster and paddy packet. Government is making aware to adopt scientific methods so that they do not have to totally rely on hybrid seeds. The outside paddy through private shops have been sold around 4-6000 quintal of paddy seeds as per information received. Agriculture department is providing 14000 quintal of treated paddy seeds through cash or exhibition.