KATHMANDU: Cabinet today decided to release Rs 20 crores towards compensation for the farmers affected in Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi and Nawalparasi due to the non-yielding seeds of maize. Over 25,000 hectares of the land sown with the hybrid seeds ended up without corn in the districts. If the allocated amount is distributed uniformly then the farmers will receive at the rate of Rs 8,000 per hectare.

“The cost of the seeds varies from Rs 300 to Rs 500 per kg and one hectare of land needs about 25 kg of seeds. The relief amount is inadequate,” said Jitendra Sonar, a Constituent Assembly member from Bara, the worst hit district. Sonar blamed the government for delaying the decision but appreciated the move nonetheless. “We will discuss with the farmers the next move,” added Sonar.

However, the seed quality status will be confirmed only after five months. “We have got the mandate from the ministry to investigate into the debacle. The seeds will be sown in Rampur, Chitwan. The multinational companies have agreed to provide the seeds of the same lot used by the farmers in the five low-yield districts. We’ll test them for the yield,” said Dr Dil Bahadur Gurung, Coordinator, National Maize Research Programme.

“The seeds will be tested for quality before being allowed to be sold only after registration at the Seed Quality Control Centre next year,” added Gurung.

The maize research centre is also trying to produce the hybrid seeds but has not yet succeeded to come up with a good hybrid. “We have limited resources to conduct rigorous research but we are testing up to 257 varieties to produce the hybrid and are expecting to come up with a hybrid within a year,” said Gurung.

The hybrid seed research began in 1999 and in 2003 scientists came up with a hybrid named Saurav but it didn’t yield the desired result.