ONGOLE: Farmers, who could not raise their crops in the kharif season owing to scanty rainfall in Prakasam district, are gearing themselves up to sow crops in rabi.

As the district received near normal rainfall last month, rabi began on a bright note. Agricultural officials say that they have positioned enough seed to meet the requirement of farmers.

They also pointed out that the Government had increased the subsidy on seed to 50 per cent and removed the ceiling of Rs. 625 per farmer.

Ryots' plea

But farmers urge the administration to plug loopholes and streamline seed distribution keeping in mind the bitter experiences of last year.

They contended that large stocks of subsidised seed were diverted to black market and genuine farmers had to buy seed in open market last year.

Farmers raised their crops on only 1.26 lakh hectares this year as against normal kharif area of 2.27 lakh hectares in Prakasam district. For instance, red gram was sown on only 34,000 hectares as against the normal 71,000 hectares.

Consequently, large tracts of lands had remained fallow in the district till now. Following good rain in September, farmers are planning to take up rabi crops in a big way.

Agricultural officials expect that there would be increase in the area of bengal gram from the normal 70,000 hectares and they positioned 68,000 quintals of seed for distribution to farmers on subsidy through 16 agricultural market centres.

They kept three varieties of seed for sale - Annagiri (Rs. 3,950 per quintal), Mexican bold (Rs. 5,200) and Kak 2 (Rs. 4,100). Farmers would be supplied 25-50 kg on 50 per cent subsidy.

While agricultural officials would issue permits to farmers, the AP Seeds Corporation would supply them certified seed through agricultural market centres.

Farmers allege that the distribution was vitiated last year by political interference when agricultural officials issued permits in bulk leading to diversion of stocks to black market.

The Markfed had procured the Kak 2 seed from farmers at Rs. 3,400 per quintal in March this year and spent Rs. 34 per quintal on processing, Rs. 90 towards cold storage and Rs. 120 towards bank interest and the cost of the seed came to Rs. 3,644.

But the AP Seeds Corporation fixed the price at Rs. 4,100 taking lion's share of the subsidy being given by the Government, the farmers complained.

Though enough seed is available in the market, farmers are rushing for government seed only to get the benefit of subsidy.

So they want the administration to tighten the distribution, avoid political interference and ensure that genuine farmers get the subsidised seed.

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