March 13: Farmers of Kathmandu valley have been cheated by a company which provided them “unsuitable” paddy seeds promising them of good harvest. Kasthamandap Trade Point had sold paddy seed named DY-28 which was developed by Chinese company and had claimed that the seed would yield plenty of harvest. However, the farmers complained that the plants didn’t develop rice panicles.

All the investment made by the farmers went down the drain.

However, the government has neither taken action against the company nor provided any compensation to the farmers. The farmers have accused that the government of protecting the company. They have also demanded compensation from the government.

The company had made such faulty seeds available to more than 2,200 farmers nine months ago just ahead of the planting season. None of the farmers who planted the DY-28 seeds were able to harvest any grain. The seeds provided by the company grow at an altitude of 700 meters above the sea level while the altitude of Kathmandu is 1,400 meters above the sea level.

Treasurer of the All Nepal Farmers Federation Krishna Prasad Adhikari said that the altitude is the reason why the plants didn’t develop rice panicles. He accused that the company deceived them in buying inappropriate seeds.

According to the Seed Quality Control Centre, around 7,745 ropanis of land where the seeds were planted didn’t produce any grains. According to Adhikari, the farmers had staged protest at Maitighar about five months ago after the plants didn’t develop rice panicles. Following the protest, the company had reached an understanding with the Seed Quality Control Centre to provide compensation of Rs 2,500 per ropani to the farmers. However, the decision has not been implemented yet.