Hyderabad: As the sowing season for the Vanakalam (Kharif) crop begins this week, fraudsters are attempting to flood the market with spurious seeds, especially cotton, despite repeated warnings from officials and police. In the last couple of days, officials launched crackdown on spurious seed racket and arrested several people.On June 1, based on a tip-off that spurious seeds were being stored at a house in Hanumal Palli village in Dhanwada mandal, the Narayanpet district police conducted a raid and seized 100kg of spurious cotton seeds. The Marikalpolice registered cases against two people, G Srinivasulu and D Venkataiah, in connection with the case.On the same day, Adilabad police arrested five persons in three separate cases for selling spurious seeds. According to Adilabad district SP Ahil Mahajan, 78 fake seed packets and 10kg of loose seeds were seized from the accused. He urged farmers to report any information regarding counterfeit seeds to the police at 8712659965.Earlier, on May 30, officials and police in Khammam arrested nine persons in three separate cases and seized 560kg of fake seeds worth 14 lakh. Khammam police commissioner Sunil Dutt said agents of fake seed manufacturers lure farmers by promising to sell seeds at a lower price, but instead supply fake seeds. Meanwhile, officials in Nagarkurnool said that buying BT-3 fake seeds could damage the agricultural ecosystem and environment, and may also cause skin problems. They advised farmers to purchase only govt-approved BT-2 cotton seeds from licenced dealers. Officials warned that those selling fake seeds could face up to 10 years in jail. .
