Paddy seed shortage affects Kendrapada farmers

Time of India

21-05-2025

Kendrapada: Farmers in Kendrapada district are facing an acute shortage of
high-yielding paddy seeds
this
kharif season
, forcing many to turn to expensive alternatives in the market.
The district administration, which plans to cultivate paddy on 1,24,600 hectares of land, requires around 5,000 quintals of seeds. However, the agriculture department has received only 2,610 quintals from the
Odisha Seed Corporation
(OSC), leaving a significant supply gap.
"The scarcity has pushed farmers to purchase sub-standard seeds at inflated prices of Rs 4,500-5,000 per quintal, compared to the official rate of Rs 4,115," said Bijaya Patra, a farmer from Shyamasundarpur village.
Popular varieties like Puja, Sarala, Swarna Sub-1, Sabitri and Lunishree are particularly scarce. Umesh Chandra Singh, president of the district unit of Krushak Sabha, highlighted that riverside villages desperately need flood-tolerant Swarna Sub-1, while coastal farmers require saline-tolerant varieties like Sabitri and Lunishree.
Chief district agriculture officer Kamalakanta Panigrahi assured that additional seeds would be available once monsoon arrives. "We are distributing seeds through 118 primary cooperative societies and encouraging farmers to consider alternative varieties," he said.
The shortage has affected around 3.6 lakh farming families in the district who began cultivation after Aksahya Tritiya on April 30. Farmer leaders have accused the govt of inaction and alleged an unholy nexus between seed traders and agricultural officials, leading to artificial price rise in the market.