Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that farmers’ interests are paramount and any injustice against them will not be tolerated. The Minister said this during a meeting with farmers from Madhya Pradesh in New Delhi. During the meeting, the farmers’ apprised him of the heavy losses they suffered due to substandard seeds and saplings in bitter gourd cultivation.
Taking serious note of the issue, Mr Chouhan termed it a direct attack on farmers’ livelihoods and immediately directed officials to ensure adequate compensation to the affected farmers and initiate strict legal action against the company responsible. Mr Chouhan said that strict action has been ordered in a case involving substandard seeds, following complaints of heavy losses in bitter gourd cultivation in Dhar and Khargone districts.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare informed that, following the Minister’s directions, an FIR has been registered against Nunhems India Private Limited at Manawar Police Station in Dhar district, and an investigation has been initiated. It added that preliminary findings indicate substandard seeds and saplings, falsely sold as certified material, led to significant crop losses. According to the farmers, the seeds were purchased in November last year, but the crop failed, with fruits remaining small, turning yellow and falling prematurely.
The Minister said that the matter goes beyond crop failure and undermines farmers’ trust, hard work and investment. He has ordered a thorough probe and directed a ban on the bitter gourd seed variety Rubasta. Mr Chouhan reaffirmed that negligence, fraud or injustice against farmers will not be tolerated and assured that the government stands firmly with them.
