Ravoor farmers protest poor quality seeds from Sriram Bioseed
The controversial deal was facilitated by local middleman Battu Chakru Naik, who helped the farmers sign agreements on Rs 80 bond paper. However, according to the affected farmers, the promised compensation was never paid.
WARANGAL: In Ravoor village of Parvathagiri Mandal, Warangal district, several local farmers claim they were misled by the Sriram Bioseed Company, which promised lucrative returns through the use of special Basmati seeds. Company representatives Mohammad Jhani and P. Raju reportedly assured farmers of a return of Rs 80,000 per acre — or at least Rs 50,000 in the event of a poor yield.
The controversial deal was facilitated by local middleman Battu Chakru Naik, who helped the farmers sign agreements on Rs 80 bond paper. However, according to the affected farmers, the promised compensation was never paid.
A. Ravi, a local farmer, told Deccan Chronicle, “We were promised Rs 50,000 in case of a loss, but after we suffered heavy losses, the company has gone silent. They made us believe they would cover our losses through these bond agreements, yet they have completely betrayed us.” He further noted that while the company had guaranteed yields of 12 to 15 quintals per acre, many farmers received only 2 to 4 quintals, exacerbating their financial distress.
In response to the mounting grievances, the farmers have filed a complaint with the Parvathagiri police. Circle inspector Rajagopal, who received the complaint, urged the farmers to exercise caution in future dealings. “We advise farmers to consult local agricultural officials before investing in new seeds or fertilisers and to avoid intermediaries,” he stated. The inspector also assured that strict actions would be taken against brokers found guilty of deceiving the farming community, citing previous cases filed under the PD Act and criminal charges.
Mandal agriculture officer T. Prashant informed Deccan Chronicle that an inquiry into the matter is currently underway. “The farmers did not consult agricultural officials prior to using the seeds supplied by Sriram Bioseed Company. As it is the Kharif season, most crops have already been harvested, and we are unable to collect samples from the fields at this time. However, we will take appropriate action against the company once the investigation is complete,” he added.