Salem, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : Farmers in Salem district have raised alarms over the performance of a specific corn seed variety distributed under the government subsidy scheme by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Department. Many are struggling to recover their farming costs due to disappointing yields.
Farmers from areas including Attur, Pathanaiykanpalayam, and Vazhapadi argue that the seeds supplied last season were not suited to Salem’s soil and climate. They are urging the government to either provide a different seed variety or reinstate the previous subsidy system, which allowed them to purchase seeds of their choice.
V.S. Govindaraj, president of the Salem District Farmers Welfare Association, reported that last year, farmers using subsidized seeds harvested only 15 bags of corn per acre, compared to nearly 40 bags from better-performing varieties. He noted that a successful corn crop could yield profits of around 200,000 rupees, but farmers using the subsidized seeds struggled to break even. Typically priced at 420 rupees per kilogram, these seeds are offered to farmers at a subsidized rate of 320 rupees.
Many farmers are hesitant to purchase the same seed variety again this season. Govindaraj alleged that some farmers have been warned that refusing to buy the seeds could affect their eligibility for government benefits. He also expressed concern that the limited shelf life of these seeds could lead to spoilage if they go unsold.
For this season, the state has approved 58 tons of subsidized corn seeds for Salem, including 18.5 tons for the Pathanaiykanpalayam block. Distribution is primarily taking place in Attur, Gangavalli, Pathanaiykanpalayam, Kolathur, and Thalaiyavasal.
Agricultural officials defended the ‘Advanta 762′ seed variety, stating that the central government has approved it for cultivation in five states. These seeds, supplied through the National Seeds Corporation, are being distributed across 20 districts in Tamil Nadu. Officials claim that the allocated seeds will be sufficient for approximately 1,866 hectares, with each batch tested prior to distribution, showing a germination standard of 90 percent.
K. Srinivasan, the joint director of the agricultural department, attributed last year’s low yields to insufficient rainfall. He stated that under favorable conditions, certified F1 varieties could yield about 3.5 tons per acre. In response to farmers’ reluctance to purchase ‘Advanta 762,’ the department has also made a cheaper variety, ‘DHM 206,’ available.
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