Bhubaneswar, June 29 (UDN): Thousands of farmers engaged in certified paddy seed production in Odisha are reportedly facing severe financial hardship due to prolonged delays in payments by the Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC), raising concerns over the impact on the ongoing kharif cultivation season.
The issue has come under the spotlight after OSSC Director Ashok Kumar Baral reportedly urged the corporation’s Chairman, Sachin Ramchandra Yadhav, to intervene and ensure the immediate release of pending dues to seed growers.
In his communication, Baral highlighted that certified seed production has remained a cornerstone of Odisha’s agricultural sector for nearly four decades, with progressive farmers partnering with OSSC to produce quality paddy seeds. However, he expressed concern that the sector has witnessed a steady decline in recent years, allegedly due to irregularities in the seed marketing system and diminishing demand for certified seeds.
According to available information, annual certified paddy seed sales in the state have reportedly fallen sharply from nearly five lakh quintals to around 1.5 lakh quintals, adversely affecting the state’s seed replacement rate.
Baral further pointed out that although the Agriculture Department had fixed a procurement target of 1.65 lakh quintals of certified paddy seeds for the current kharif season, OSSC procured nearly 1.73 lakh quintals. Officials are reportedly citing this excess procurement as one of the reasons for withholding payments.
Farmers who supplied certified seeds during January and February after harvesting their crops in November and December are yet to receive their full dues, with some growers allegedly not receiving any payment even after six months.
The delay has put farmers under significant financial strain at a crucial juncture, as many depend on the proceeds from seed sales to purchase agricultural inputs, repay loans and meet household expenses, including education and social commitments.
Farmer representatives and agricultural experts have urged the state government and OSSC to expedite the disbursement process, warning that continued delays could discourage farmers from participating in certified seed production programmes and adversely affect seed availability in the future.
The issue has raised concerns over the sustainability of Odisha’s certified seed production ecosystem and its potential impact on agricultural productivity in the state.
Leave a Reply