Rajbiraj, November 11

Province 2 government has cut subsidy on wheat seeds, leaving Saptari farmers worried. The province government had introduced a 50 per cent subsidy on wheat seed last year.

“We felt easy when we were provided improved seeds at subsidised price. Now that the subsidy has been cut, how shall we grow wheat?” asked Birendra Yadav,a farmer.

Wheat farming starts from mid-November in Saptari, according to Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Saptari. AKC Saptari Chief Bhagirath Yadav said the province government had cut the 50 per cent grant given on wheat seed from this year.

Farmers vented their fury at the cancellation of the subsidy on wheat seed. A farmer in Khadak Municipality Narsingh Prasad Chaudhary said it was unfortunate that the province government had cut the grant on seeds.

Province 2 Minister of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Sailendra Prasad Sah said the government had cut the subsidy on wheat seed due to the poor quality and inadequate supply of the seed.

Sah said the province government would establish its own seed company and manage the distribution of seeds from next year.