Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080351360300.htm

Karnataka - Hassan

Farmers protest poor seed quality

Staff Correspondent

Barren: Farmers from Mathhihalli in Arsikere taluk displaying failed potato crop in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Hassan on Saturday.

HASSAN: Farmers from Mathhihalli in Gandsi hobli of Arsikere taluk staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Saturday protesting against the poor quality of seeds supplied by a well-known company recently. The seeds had reportedly failed to bear crop. The farmers also exhibited samples of the failed crop during their protest.

Money spent

They said potato crop on 250 acres of land in the village had failed. They had reportedly spent Rs. 10,000 an acre on the purchase of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Nanjaiah, Chandrasekhara, Gangaraju, Rangaswamy and Manjashetty — all farmers — in a representation to the Deputy Commissioner, appealed for an immediate assessment of the crop loss and sought compensation.

In Hassan district, potato is grown on more than 40,000 hectares of land. This is a major commercial crop in the district. In Hassan taluk too, the crop has failed. In other parts of the district it has been affected by blight.