WARNAGAL: Farmers are a worried lot as cotton seeds are still not available in the market though the kharif season is round the corner.Agriculture operations have already begun and sowing will be taken up either in the first or second week of June.According to agriculture officials, cotton crop is likely to be cultivated in 2.45 lakh hectares in Warangal district for which about 13.75 lakh cotton seed packets are required.The seed companies have hiked prices of the seed packets, but they are yet to be released in the market in the district.While the companies claim that the seeds are in the packaging stage, farmers are fed up making rounds to the dealer shops.District farmers had given an advance to the tune of Rs 31 crore to companies three months ago for the supply of seeds.With the companies refusing to sell seeds at the previous rate, the government held discussions with the companies and fixed the rate of 450 gms of BT I variety packet at Rs 850 from the previous Rs 650 and similarly,BT -II variety packet at Rs 930 from Rs 750.Farmers are evincing more interest in the BT II variety.Farmers lamented that the companies are now insisting that the seeds will be sold only at the revised rates.An agriculture official said that there is no harm even if there is slight hike in the price of the 450 gms seeds packet as the same packet is being sold in other states between Rs 1600 to Rs 1800.Farmers are willing to shell out the extra price on the seed packets but are fearing that there might be an artificial scarcity.While the agriculture department officials said seeds will be available in the market by the first week of June, farmers are expressing doubts over the supply.CPI state executive committee member T Venkat Rao said the officials should take necessary steps to ensure that seeds were not sold in the blackmarket by the companies.
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