Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Supply of subsidised groundnut seed hit

Staff Reporter

Replenishment of stock by agencies at slow pace

ANANTAPUR: The distribution of subsidised groundnut seed in the district appears to be running into rough weather with the replenishment of stock by seed supplying agencies progressing at a snail’s pace, compared to the increasing demand from the farmers. The demand for seed has been higher in the beginning itself as several areas in the district had already recorded a good rainfall this month.

As most of the farming community had completed preparatory cultivation like tilling and levelling the land in May, again due to receipt of good rain in several areas, the farmers are eager to sow the seed. Though groundnut crop is normally sown in about 7.65 lakh hectares in the district. It is sown in higher extent upto 8.5 lakh hectares, as they did in 2005 kharif season, if the conditions are conducive. In the years of adverse seasonal conditions, the coverage would come down as it had happened last year, when only about 6.5 lakh hectares were covered with groundnut.

Scanty rainfall had strained the crop during the key stages of its growth in kharif 2006. The yield was very low at an average of about 78 kg per hectare. Normal yield of the crop in the district was about 550 kg. As a result, majority of the farmers have no seed with them and are depending on the open market and Government supply.

Against the requirement of about 10.5 lakh quintals of groundnut seed, the State Government had decided to supply 5.5 lakh quintals, the highest quantity supplied so far, with each farmer getting a maximum of three bags (90 kgs) of seed. There are about 7 lakh pattadar passbook-holders in the district.

According to Joint Director of Agriculture P. Pothaiah, the seed-supplying firms had supplied only 2.19 lakh quintals till June 14.Out of this, 1.46 lakh quintals was already drawn by the farmers on the first two days of distribution.

Only 73,000 quintals groundnut seed was available in the stocks points as on June 15 and even if 10,000 quintals of stock was replenished before the third day of distribution, June 18, the stock would be just about one lakh quintal.

With a gap of three days in distribution, there is all likelihood that large number of farmers would throng the seed sales counters on June 18.

Speeding up the process of replenishment of stock appears to be the only way out of the situation.

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