The widespread monsoon rains lashing Odisha's Ganjam district have failed to bring cheer to the farmers, mainly in areas hit by Cyclone Phailin, who apprehend shortage of paddy seeds during the kharif season.
"We want swarna masoori variety of paddy seed. But the agriculture department has so far failed to provide it. We are not sure about the rate of yield of the other new varieties of paddy," Rabindra Kumar Sahu, a farmer in Golanthara area lamented.
"We are not getting adequate quantity of seeds to start the agriculture operation," claimed another farmer, Juria Bhuyan of Beguniapada.
Several other farmers in the district echoed him.
Farmers in Ganjam are depending upon the state's Seeds Corporation for their 'interest and demand seed' as its production was affected due to Cyclone Phailin that battered the district in October last year.
The agriculture department has targetted cultivation of paddy in 2.23 lakh hectares and non-paddy crops in 1.8 lakh hectares in the district during this kharif season, department sources said.
Farmers' agitation in different areas demanding supply of seeds is being reported almost everyday.
Agriculture department sources said the district requires 72,864 quintals of paddy seeds this year. But the department has been able to supply only 36,000 quintals so far to the farmers through dealers and primary agriculture cooperative societies.
"We are expecting around 8,000 to 10,000 quintals of paddy seeds shortly," S K Sarangi, deputy director of agriculture (DDA) in Ganjam district said.
He, however, ruled out the possibility of kharif cultivation being hit due to short supply of paddy seeds.
With the onset of monsoon, agricultural works like preparation and ploughing of lands have started in full swing, he added.
