Rajbiraj, December 29

Scarcity of wheat seeds has hit the local farmers hard in Saptari.

A farmer Ram Nath Yadav at Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality said he had planned to sow wheat seeds in 10 kattha land. However, he was able to cultivate only six kattha land after he could not find wheat seeds anywhere in the district.

Another farmer Shambhu Yadav of the same rural municipality said he had planned to sow wheat seeds in onebigaha land, but he could not do so due to seed shortage.

Chief at Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Rajbiraj, Bhagirath Yadav said wheat seed crisis had hit the local farmers hard. Earlier, dealers in 18 local levels of the district provided seeds from the centre. “We have contacted National Agriculture Seeds Centre, but in vain,” he added. Yadav said had signed an agreement with Salt Trading Corporation for procurement of wheat seeds. “But the STC only provided 105 tonnes of wheat seeds,” he added.

Of the 105 tonnes seeds, 69 tonnes have been provided to local dealers on the recommendation of rural municipalities and municipalities, while the remaining 36 tonnes seeds have been sent to Siraha. Yadav said there was a demand for 15,000 tonnes of wheat seeds in Siraha and Saptari districts.