OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: A serious agricultural anomaly has come to light in Sonitpur district as several Boro paddy farmers reported the emergence of weeds instead of paddy plants in their fields. In response, the Sonitpur District Agriculture Department, in collaboration with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), has launched an on-site investigation to determine the cause and offer timely remedial measures.
Farmers from Pabhamari and Sholmari villages under the Missamari Agriculture Circle reportedly used hybrid Boro paddy seeds namely Lal Anand, GB-1, and Agri-200 sourced from AB Enterprise, a firm based in West Bengal. These seeds were not approved for use in the district. Notably, the seeds were allegedly purchased without receipts from a local seed dealer, Haidor Krishi Bhandar.
A team of agricultural experts, led by District Agriculture Officer Naren Chandra Sarmah and including KVK Scientist Namita Dutta, District Agriculture Information Officer Anjan Baruah, Agriculture Development Officer Dipankar Das, and Assistant Agriculture Inspector Prabin Talukdar, visited the affected fields. They conducted a detailed inspection and interacted with the farmers to understand the extent of the damage. Preliminary observations suggest that improper or excessive use of chemical fertilizers, beyond the recommended limits, might have contributed to the issue. Around 40 bighas of farmland were found to have 40–70% weed growth. Interestingly, one farmer, Abdul Matin, who used the same seeds on 10 bighas of land, reported no such issue on 2 bighas. The department has already collected samples for further analysis at the KVK. Meanwhile, the license of Haidor Krishi Bhandar in Missamari for selling seeds and pesticides has been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. Further actions will be taken based on the laboratory findings and inquiry results.
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