In the wake of early showers and the expected onset of monsoon in the first week of June, farmers in Dharwad district have already started pre-sowing activities and on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Snehal R. held a videoconference with officials and dealers of seeds and fertilizer and farmer leaders.

The Deputy Commissioner warned of strict action against traders trying to create artificial scarcity of seeds and fertilizer and those trying to fleece farmers.

She directed officials to keep a vigil over unfair trade practices and set up vigilance squads and submit regular reports on the availability and related issues. She asked them to ensure timely availability of seeds and fertilizer.

The Deputy Commissioner told officials of the Agriculture Department to ensure that no unauthorised and fake seeds and fertilizer enter the market and confirm availability of quality seeds and fertilizer to the farmers.

Any complaint on fleecing, poor quality should be addressed immediately and any negligence would be dealt with seriously, she said.

Ms. Snehal said that because of the war in West Asia, and based on the demand at the national and State level, there was some delay in the supply of fertilizer. However the required quantum of seeds and fertilizer was available in Dharwad district for the kharif season and the same had been distributed.

There was no need for the farmers to panic and they could purchase the seeds from Raitha Samparka Kendras and urea from the fertilizer sale centres, she said.

She also warned that any unfair trade practice would result in immediate suspension of the licence of such shops.

The Deputy Commissioner said that a sowing target of 2,82,677 hectares had been set for the kharif season. Paddy, jowar, maize, millets and pulses are mainly grown during the kharif season.

After the sale of 3,106.04 tonnes of various fertilizer from April to May 21, the district still had a stock of 24,793.76 MT.

The Deputy Commissioner has also requested the farmers to contact the assistant directors of agriculture of respective taluks or joint director of agriculture in case of any complaints.

Joint Director of Agriculture Manjunath Antaravalli briefed about the sowing target, availability of seeds and fertilizer. Along with taluk and district level officials, various farmers leaders took part in the video conference and shared their opinions and concerns.