Use certified seeds, agri dept, experts urge farmers amid quality concerns

AMID complaints of private traders supplying poor quality seeds which, in turn, are blamed for recent episodes of early flowering of paddy in Tiruchy, the agriculture and farmers' welfare department, and scientists, advise farmers to procure only government-certified seeds.

- D VINCENT AROCKIARAJ @Tiruchy

They not only are reliable in quality but are also tolerant to climate-induced pressures, they add.

A senior agriculture official blamed farmers for taking unnecessary risk and purchasing uncertified seeds from private dealers even when the government offers reasonable prices for paddy varieties cultivated by purchasing the seed from its agencies like primary agricultural cooperative credit societies.

They believe that the so-called fine quality varieties sold by private dealers will fetch fair prices without sensing the risks involved in it, the official said.