High-yielding hybrid paddy seed prices soar in Haryana
KARNAL: As the sowing of paddy nursery officially began in Haryana from May 15, farmers are paying higher prices to buy highyielding hybrid seeds.
The ground reports suggest that due to the lack of monitoring by the authorities, private companies are selling hybrid seed at high prices.
Even the prices of some highyielding early maturing hybrid seeds have reached above Rs 400 to Rs 500 per kg and the average price of hybrid seed starts at Rs 200 per kg.
As per dealers, this year farmers are not showing interest in traditional parmal varieties which are available at lower prices below Rs 100 per kg but they are paying hefty prices to buy hybrid seeds.
“I have paid Rs 11,200 to buy Hybrid 2111 seed for my seven acres. Last year, I purchased the same seed at Rs 250 per kg but now the prices have gone up to Rs 400,” said a farmer, Krishan Lal. Even farmers said that some seeds like Sava 7501 and Pusa 1847 (basmati) are out of stock and not available at any price.
About the reason behind shifting to hybrid seeds, farmers said that last year they suffered losses due to the attack of the southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus or dwarfing disease in the traditional varieties, especially PR 113, PR 114 and NDR 359. This year, the farmers are focused on the varieties which were not affected by the dwarf virus.
Narhari Bangar, director, department of agriculture and farmers’ welfare, Haryana, said that the agriculture department does not have any regulation or monitoring on prices of seed fixed by private companies which fix the rates as per the quality. “But we monitor the quality of seed as per the norms,” he added.