Ranchi: Following the onset of the monsoon on June 12, the state agriculture department has fast-tracked its kharif seed distribution drive. The department plans to wrap up the distribution of nearly 45,000 quintals of subsidised seeds by the end of this week, clearing the deck for state-wide sowing.Agriculture director Bidyanand Sharma Pankaj said, “Distribution in the Santhal Pargana region is almost complete, and sowing has already commenced there. Stocks have reached all districts, and district agriculture officers (DAOs) instructed to finish the rollout swiftly.”Officials said the distribution drive was delayed this year due to technical complications. “Ideal time for sowing to begin is around the last week of May. We have put the distribution process on a fast track and are optimistic that sowing will be completed on time,” he added.The state govt provides subsidised seeds across four core categories — paddy, maize, pulses, and oilseeds. Central public sector undertakings, including the National Seeds Corporation and the HIL India Private Limited, have been contracted to supply paddy seeds for the current season.The Uttarakhand Seeds and Tarai Development Corporation is managing the supply of pulses and oilseeds. The total procurement includes 33,000 quintals of non-hybrid seeds and 12,000 quintals of hybrid varieties.The department is enforcing strict allocation limits based on actual cultivable land holdings to prevent corruption and the illegal open-market resale of subsidised supplies. DAOs have also been ordered to carry out mandatory digital geo-tagging of agricultural fields immediately after sowing is completed.The directorate has also launched an aggressive campaign against black-marketing and counterfeit farming inputs. DAOs have been ordered to monitor private retailers to ensure seeds are not sold above government-stipulated maximum retail prices.“DAOs must conduct weekly, rotational inspections covering at least 75% of licensed seed shops in their jurisdictions every week. In cases of suspected fraud, samples must be sent for immediate laboratory testing. If irregularities or spurious seeds are detected, police complaints (FIRs) will be lodged against the errant shop owners,” the director said.
