Shimla, Aug 9
Himachal Pradesh Government would probe the supply of contaminated hybrid seeds from Hyderabad as various complaints of presence of pest in Una district have been received, stated the Agriculture Minister Virender Kanwar.
Replying to a query of BJP member Col Inder Singh during the question hour, the Minister said that presence of pest rendered loss of 4.7 per cent crop of maize in the Una district and the department would announce the spray schedule to take care of the pest.
He said that the Government would probe the presence of pests in certified seed of maize in Una district. Minister said that Government had procured about 1.62 lakh quintal hybrid seeds before the Kharif season this year.
Government is dependent upon the outside state seed agencies however non-hybrid seeds are being developed in the state and being supplied to farmers. Govt to make the state self-reliant in seed production is trying to promote local seeds and is in touch with Central Potato Research Institute and Hyderabad seed corporation of India to develop seeds in the state.
The Minister said that hybrid seeds being provided to farmers remained certified and its quality and purity remained uncompromised. Raising the query, Col Inder Singh said that farmers belonging to Una districts complained the presence of pests in the maize crops and seeds. The same were supplied to affected farmers from Hyderabad based seed firms.
It is worthwhile to mention here that certified hybrid seeds of Tomato and Cauliflower also, were found contaminated and not true for its F-1 quality.