Strict enforcement guidelines set for seed sellers in TN's Thanjavur for Samba season

Thanjavur, Aug 20 (AHN) Private seed dealers in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district have been instructed to sell only paddy varieties suitable for the Samba cultivation season and to comply strictly with seed certification and record-keeping requirements.

Deputy Director of Seed Inspection Sujatha said farmers across the district were preparing for Samba cultivation and must be supplied with quality seeds appropriate for the season.

In a press release, the official said certified seed packets offered for sale should carry two tags -- a certification tag and an information tag -- in white or blue. The information tag must contain 14 prescribed particulars, including the crop, variety, batch number, expiry date and the season for which the seed is suitable, in accordance with the provisions of the Seeds Act.

All private dealers must maintain a seed stock register and germination reports. Stock details for each lot should be recorded on separate pages to ensure traceability and facilitate inspection. Long-duration paddy varieties that mature in 150 to 160 days are considered suitable for cultivation during the current Samba season.

Dealers have been advised to give priority to varieties, including Savithri (CR 1009), CR 1009 Sub-1 and ADT 51. These may subsequently be followed by medium-duration varieties such as ADT 38, ADT 39, ADT 42, ADT 46, White Ponni, IR 20, CO 43, CO 46, CO 50 and Improved White Ponni.

When selling varieties originating outside Tamil Nadu, including BPT 5204, MTU 7029, NLR 34449 and KNM 1638, dealers must maintain Form II records. They must also issue a proper receipt to every farmer purchasing seeds.

Around 2,750 tonnes of long- and medium-duration paddy seeds have been stocked for sale at private outlets across the district.

To verify germination quality, seed inspectors based in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Pattukkottai are collecting official samples and sending them to the Seed Testing Laboratory in Thanjavur for analysis.

Sujatha warned that the sale of varieties unsuitable for Samba cultivation, or any failure to comply with prescribed seed-sale procedures, would invite action under the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seeds Rules, 1968, and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.

Dealers were asked to verify the labels, germination reports and seasonal suitability of every seed lot before offering it to farmers, without any exception.