Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Agriculture Department has ordered a probe into the sprouting of paddy seedlings within 15 days of transplantation under Piro Sub-Division in Bhojpur district.
Block Agriculture Officer (BAO), Piro, Bhagwan Upadhayay said, ” It is serious matter and an inquiry has been ordered into it.” He said that the guilty would not spared.
Meanwhile, farmers under Piro Sub-Division in Bhojpur district are feeling cheated as they have to return the loans taken from money lenders for paddy transplantation. Bheem Raj Rai, a farmer, said that the farmers of Dusadhi Badhar under Piro police station had purchased paddy seeds from a seed shop at Piro. After transplantation, the seedlings germinated within 15 days.
Beem Raj Rai further said that the farmers have complained to Piro Block Agriculture Officer (BAO) Bhagwan Upadhayay about it. He said that premature sprouting of seedlings is due to below standard seeds and it marred the hard work of the farmers and added that the farmers had purchased seeds by taking loans from the money lenders at high rate of interest hoping to return the loan after harvesting of crops. But failure of crops due premature sprouting of seedlings sealed the fate of the farmers.