Farmers in the Nadigadda region are facing many problems because of fake seeds, counterfeit pesticides, and exploitation by fertilisers and pesticide dealers. They are often sold fake or low-quality seeds, which can result in failed crops and lost labor. Despite efforts by task force teams, the sales of these fake products continue.
Many blame the government for not doing enough to provide farmers with quality seeds and eliminate fake ones from the market. With around 70 lakh acres being cultivated during the monsoon season, farmers are gearing up to plant cotton on a large scale. This has led to an increased demand for seeds, making it easier for fraudsters to cheat unsuspecting farmers.
Reports of fake seed sales have been coming in from various districts, including Mahabub Nagar, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy, Adilabad, and Medak. Lack of surveillance by officials has made it difficult for farmers to speak up about their losses, and there is no system in place to track failed seeds.
In Gadwal district alone, there are 20 companies producing cotton seeds, but only 7 have submitted their details to the agriculture department. Around 40,000 farmers cultivate cotton seed in the district annually, producing over one and a half million seed packets. Farmers struggle to verify the authenticity of seeds they purchase, as traders often deceive them when it comes to checking details like genetic purity, expiry date, and company information.
