Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission chairman M Kodanda Reddy on Friday lashed out at officials for failing to curb the rampant sale of spurious seeds, warning that those posing as seed company ‘organisers’ will be excluded under Telangana’s proposed new Seed Act.Addressing farmers at the Gadwal district collectorate, Kodandareddy said such middlemen, often responsible for misleading farmers, have no place in a reformed agricultural system. “Whenever Congress was in power, it led key reforms in agriculture. This time, we will act decisively,” he declared, adding that officials in the agriculture and marketing departments lacked awareness and accountability.He questioned the indifference of district collectors, asking, “Are farmers untouchable?” and stressed that the recent seed scandal in Mulugu must shape stronger regulatory measures.He also urged officials to crack down on illegal moneylenders and cancel licences of violators. “The govt will not betray your trust,” he assured farmers, while warning opposition parties against politicising farmer issues.Recalling past hardships, he said farmers in Palamuru shifted from castor to cotton cultivation due to pest issues, and today the region stands second only to China in cotton farming. He blamed earlier regimes for failing to protect farmers from crises and suicides.
