Raid, book suppliers of spurious seeds, fertilizers under PD act, KCR tells officials

The CM made it clear that the police and agriculture department officials, who nab the spurious seeds mafia would be given auxiliary promotions, incentives, and service medals. The CM instructed the DGP over the phone to depute teams for nabbing the offenders and instructed the Intelligence IG to keep a tab on the spurious seeds' manufacturers.

"You should unveil your ferocious side and nab the guilty and arrested them under the PD Act. Your strong action should send a message that spurious seeds can never be sold in Telangana. Declare war on the spurious seeds," the CM said. He expressed anguish that spurious seeds play havoc with farmers' lives, especially the small and medium level farmers. He said it is unfortunate that along with seeds even fertilizers and pesticides are becoming spurious.

"Arrest gangs who are supplying these spurious fertilizers and pesticides under the guise of biopesticides and book them under the PD Act. The aim of the state government is to revive and revitalize the agriculture sector in the newly formed Telangana State and thereby strengthen the rural economy and stabilize the farm sector once and for all. He said along with the Mission Kakatiya programme, irrigation projects were constructed and became successful in turning one crore acres of lands fertile. The entire face of the agriculture sector had been qualitatively changed for the good. Despite obstacles created by certain vested interests and despite the baseless smear campaign, irrigation projects like Kaleswaram were completed with a strong will and commitment. Confidence of farmer in the agriculture had increased leaps and bounds," he said.

The CM said the aims and objectives of the state could be achieved only through commitment, dedication to the welfare of the farmer, and the development of agriculture. The CM instructed the officials concerned to make quality seeds and fertilizers available for farmers at the onset of the monsoon. The CM instructed agriculture minister S. Niranjan Reddy to ensure that seeds and fertilizers are sold only through companies that were given permission. He asked for the implementation of the QR code seeds traceability method. The CM instructed chief secretary Somesh Kumar to make arrangements to promulgate an ordinance, if need be, to amend the acts to enforce strict guidelines to stop the supply of spurious seeds.

Rythu Bandhu Assistance

The Rythu Bandhu financial assistance given by the government is helping in the development of agriculture in a big way. The financial assistance given under the scheme was directly deposited into the farmers' accounts without the need for middlemen. The farmers no longer have the need to go to local money lenders for loans. They are utilising state assistance to buy seeds, fertilizers and invest in cultivation and get higher yields.

Rythu Bandhu from 15 June to 25 June

The CM instructed principal secretary (finance) Ramakrishna Rao to deposit Rythu Bandhu assistance in the farmers' accounts between 15 June to 25 June. He instructed the finance secretary to follow the same method that was followed last summer and deposit the amount in the accounts and category-wise. He also instructed that 10 June should be the cut-off date to recognize lands that were migrated from part B to A and implement the Rythu Bandhu scheme.