JOIN USDC interacts with potato growers; assures good quality seeds
About 1.84 lakh quintals of seed potatoes have been distributed to farmers for the current year, which began on May 5, said Deputy Commissioner Umesh H Kusugal.
Presiding over a meeting in Hassan, on Wednesday, he told the farmers to complain to the authorities concerned if they come across substandard quality seeds being distributed. This would help the officials to stop the distribution of poor quality seeds. The officials have already visited the market and have interacted with traders. Till now, they have not come across any such complaint, he said.
Certified seedsThe government has assured to distribute certified seeds to farmers. But, the Seed Corporation had declined, saying it is impossible to certify the quality of seeds.
Due to the efforts of the Principal Secretary of the Horticulture department, who followed it up with the Central government, we were successful in getting certified seeds. Those interested to purchase certified seeds can contact the DC’s office, Kusugal said.
But, the farmers explained that the certified seeds will not be of any use as 75 per cent of the farmers have already completed sowing. Hence, certified seeds should be distributed at the right time next year, they stressed.
So, the DC directed the officials to make taluk-wise list of the need for certified seeds and submit a proposal to the government. Additional DC H N Gopalakrishna, Joint Director for Horticulture Suma and others were present.