MP Farmers receive weevil-ridden seeds under Beej Gram Scheme

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh continue to face an endless series of challenges. Unseasonal rains during the Kharif season severely damaged soybean crops, and low market prices further deepened their financial troubles. As they prepare for the Rabi season to recover from these losses, they are now grappling with power cuts and fertiliser shortages. Adding to their woes, many farmers accuse the agriculture department of providing poor-quality seeds.

Ajay Singh, a farmer from Dobra Jagir village in the Bairasia block of Bhopal district, expresses his frustration: “I purchased the 8737 (Anmol) variety of wheat seeds from the Agriculture Extension Officer on November 4. Under the 'Beej Gram Yojana,' I received 40 kg of wheat seeds at a 50 percent subsidy, paying Rs 1,200. However, these seeds are useless to me.” He also reports that the wheat was infested with weevils (an insect that feeds on cereal grains).

The Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Department in Madhya Pradesh has been distributing the HI 8737 (Anmol) variety of wheat seeds, sourced from the Seed Corporation, to farmers since early November. In Bhopal district, the Agriculture Extension Officer (Gram Sevak) has distributed 8,037 bags of seeds to small farmers in villages like Bhairopura, Dobra Jagir, and Khajuri Kalan at Rs 1,200 per bag with a 50 percent subsidy. However, upon opening the seed bags for sowing, farmers discovered that the wheat was infested with insects. Similar complaints about substandard and poor-quality seeds are emerging from other districts, including Raisen, Vidisha, and Rajgarh.

"I had prepared everything to sow this variety on one acre," Singh shares. "But as soon as I opened the seed bag, I saw insects crawling inside. When I held the grains in my hand, they felt like flour. I have complained to the authorities, but no action has been taken."

Dinesh Gurjar, another farmer facing similar challenges, shares, “I had planted soybean crops using a loan from the cooperative union, but untimely rains and low market prices left me with heavy losses. Hoping to recover, I decided to invest in advanced seed varieties. However, the certified seeds turned out to be of poor quality, forcing me to repeatedly visit the seed distribution center and officials' offices to get them exchanged."

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with the MP Directorate of Pulses Development, conducted a joint inspection over five years (2015–2020) to evaluate the implementation of the Beej Gram Yojana in Madhya Pradesh. The findings, detailed in the National Food Security Mission Rabi 2019–20 (MP) report, revealed that the scheme primarily focuses on seed distribution, with little attention to other critical aspects of agricultural support.

The report further emphasises that to guarantee the availability of high-quality seeds in alignment with the objectives of this ambitious initiative, more concerted and sincere efforts are essential. Specifically, the selection of crop varieties, training of beneficiaries, and ensuring proper storage protocols must be undertaken with greater diligence. However, this is not happening in the state. 

What is Beej Gram Yojna?

The Central Government introduced the Beej Gram Yojana in 2014 under the Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material, with Madhya Pradesh implementing it in 2015-16. Currently, the scheme is active in all districts of the state.

The Beej Gram Yojana aims to educate farmers on optimal seed production practices. It provides a 50 percent subsidy on seeds required for one acre of land, along with training for farmers.

The scheme prioritizes villages with a higher population of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) farmers. To avail of the benefits, farmers must apply through the Gram Sevak or District Agriculture Officer. Applications must include a copy of the Aadhaar card, bank account details, and land ownership documents.

More expensive market seeds

Bhartiya Kisan Sangh leader Akhilesh Meena says,

"The agriculture department first provided poor quality seeds to the farmers. Now in the name of changing the seeds, farmers are being made to run from one centre to another centre, but even after changing, they are not giving good quality seeds."

Deputy Director of the Agriculture Welfare Department, Suman Prasad, acknowledges the substandard quality of the HI 8737 (Anmol) wheat seeds distributed to farmers by the Seed Corporation. "The seeds are of poor quality and rotten," he admitted. "We have received complaints from several districts and are working to replace the seeds in response to these grievances," he adds.

Dhanraj Patel, a farmer from Shyampur village in Vidisha, questions, "If the seeds provided by the government are spoiling, then which seeds can we trust now?" He continues, 

"I have lodged complaints with officials from the panchayat all the way up to the agriculture department, but the problem persists. With no time left, I was forced to buy seeds at Rs 3,800 per kg from the market and sow them. If you rely on the agriculture department, you're probably not going to be able to sow your crops."

Why does proper implementation matter?

Proper implementation of agricultural schemes is crucial for ensuring good production and a stable income for farmers. Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka emphasises,

"The key to good production and income lies in appropriate and high-quality seeds."

The Beej Gram Yojana aims to provide verified and improved seed varieties to farmers before the sowing season. A notable aspect of this scheme is that farmers not only receive seeds but are also encouraged to produce seeds for themselves and their neighbors. These seeds can be used for up to three years.

However, farmer leader Rahul Dhoot points out that the scheme's goal is to reduce farmers' reliance on the market for seeds. "But the poor quality of seeds being provided is eroding farmers' confidence in the government's subsidized seeds," he says. "Farmers who produce quality seeds can sell them at good prices within their villages, but this isn't happening due to the substandard seeds they are receiving."

Adding to their struggles, farmers in Madhya Pradesh have already faced challenges from severe weather, delayed sowing due to a shortage of essential fertilizers like urea and DAP, and now, the government's provision of poor-quality subsidized seeds. With all these hurdles, it is clear that farmers are facing a difficult journey during the Rabi sowing season in the state.

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