The department of agriculture extension (DAE) in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah have formed a three-member probe committee to investigate the claim of the farmers when they were saying that they were cheated by some of the traders purchasing fake and substandard inion seeds in the season.
It has broken the backbone of the inion farming farmers at the seeds did not provided adequate germination and the growth of the sapling was suspended. The agitated farmers had demanded immediate punishment to the inion seed sellers bringing them in book immediately.
Over a hundred onion farmers showing agitation against the fake seed sellers in front of Shailkupa police station and upazila agriculture office at Shailkupa in Jhenaidah said they had purchased each kilogram of onion seeds at taka 2,500 to 4,000 from the sellers when they had ensured of better germination and yield both. But the germination rate was poor and growth at the age of eight to ten days was suspended. Not only that the tender saplings started dying up one after another on the fields.
Farmer Anwar Hossain of Boria village in Shailkupa upazila said he had transplanted onion sapling on his 10 decimals of land in the season. He purchased the seeds from a trader who had assured of better germination and growth. But his experience was different as the growth of the tender saplings suspended at the age of 10 to 12 days.
Farmer Shahin of Chhoto dhalaharachandra village in same upazila said the same story about his inion plot. The farmers had de2`manded punishment to the seed sellers and compensate the affected farmers at an early date.
Upazila agriculture officer (UAO) in Shailkuap Anisuzzaman Khan when contacted said he had visited some of the affected inion plots. He came to realize that the seeds which the onion farmers had sowed might be of previous year which could not ensure optimum germination and growth of the saplings as the main ingredient in the seeds were almost vanished. It might not ensure yield as desired by the farmers at all.
He said to investigate the matter they had formed a three member probe committee headed by agriculture extension officer (AEO) of the DAE in Shailkupa Abul Hasnat who will submit probe report within seven working days. If the seed sellers were found guilty might be brought in books as per the law of the country, UAO Anisuzzaman Khan said.
