Spurious hybrid maize seeds leave ryots in distress

Vijayawada: Many farmers and tenant farmers in parts of NTR district and adjoining areas of Telangana are facing severe financial distress after having cultivated allegedly spurious hybrid maize seeds that failed to deliver the promised yield.

The issue surfaced initially in A Konduru mandal, where farmers in Komatikunta, Ramachandrapuram and Cheemalapadu villages, along with those in Kachavaram village of Yerrupalem mandal of Telangana, cultivated hybrid maize seeds MM 9375 (Dhanya brand) reportedly marketed by a Tata-affiliated company.

Curiously, the maize plants exhibited bizarre growth patterns. While the average plant height is typically around four feet; in the affected fields, the crop has grown as tall as 11 feet. Despite this excessive vegetative growth, productivity remains poor.

Under normal conditions, each plant produces one or two cobs per kanupu (the joint or knot on the stalk from which leaves and ear shoots grow). However, in several instances, farmers observed three to four cobs emerging from a single kanupu, indicating irregular development. Farmers said that though the plants appear tall and lush, the cobs are underdeveloped and unlikely to yield marketable produce, further adding to their losses.

Farmers said they were assured of yields up to 50 quintals per acre at the time of purchase. However, after nearly three months of cultivation, the crop condition indicates that the yield may not reach even 20 quintals per acre.

The seeds were reportedly cultivated in more than 150 acres across the affected villages.

Farmers purchased three-kilogram seed packets at a cost of Rs.1,950 each. They invested approximately Rs.35,000 per acre on cultivation, while tenant farmers paid an additional Rs.25,000 per acre as advance lease, taking the total investment to around Rs.60,000 per acre.

With the crop failing to meet expectations, farmers fear they may not even recover their investment, pushing them into deep financial hardship. Many tenant farmers, who have already paid hefty lease amounts, are now burdened with mounting debts and have little hope of securing returns from the current crop. The situation has left several families worried about managing daily expenses, repaying loans, and arranging funds for the next agricultural season. Farmers said the unexpected losses have not only affected their livelihoods but also shaken their confidence, as they now face uncertainty over sustaining future cultivation.

A delegation of the Andhra Pradesh Koulu Rythu Sangham (AP Tenant Farmers’ Association) visited the affected villages and inspected the standing maize crop at Ramachandrapuram, Komatikunta, Cheemalapadu on Monday. The team, led by state unit general secretary P Jamalaiah and NTR district general secretary Mekala David, interacted with the distressed farmers and gathered details about the losses incurred. Leaders of farmers unions Pambi Mohan Rao, Bandi Venkateswara Rao and Bandi Koteswara Rao were also part of the delegation.

The leaders alleged that substandard seeds were sold to farmers by company agents in coordination with local dealers, including a seed shop in Ramachandrapuram, taking advantage of farmers’ lack of awareness. They urged the state government to direct Agriculture Department officials to immediately conduct field inspections, assess the extent of crop damage, and take stringent action against those responsible for the supply of allegedly spurious seeds.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamalaiah demanded that compensation of Rs.1 lakh per acre be provided to farmers who suffered losses due to the substandard maize seeds. He called for strict regulatory measures to curb the sale of spurious and low-quality seeds in the market and to safeguard the interests of farmers across the State.