Seed Scam Exposed: Fake Agricultural Seeds Flood Assam’s Nagaon District

As Rabi season farming gains momentum in Assam, a serious threat of fake agricultural seeds has emerged. In Assam's Nagaon district, the issue of fake seeds has become a major problem for farmers.

According to reports, a counterfeit seed market has become active in western Nagaon and local markets, where unsuspecting farmers are being sold substandard and fake seeds under the guise of high quality.

Nagaon Fake Seed Case: How Farmers Are Being Harmed

In this Nagaon fake seed case, some unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the farmers' vulnerability. During the Rabi season, when farmers are compelled to buy seeds, they are being given false information and sold counterfeit seeds. This is directly impacting crop yields, and many Assam farmers have fallen victim to this fake seed scam.

Seed License Irregularities Raise Serious Questions in Assam

The most shocking aspect of this entire seed scam in Assam is that despite the existence of rules, the Nagaon Agriculture Department has failed to properly enforce licensing norms.

According to reports: Licenses for selling seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides have been granted to people who lack the required qualifications and proper storage facilities or infrastructure. This clearly shows that the seed licensing irregularities in Assam expose a systemic failure.

Shantijan Market Nagaon: Are the Rules Limited to Paper Only?

The most alarming situation has been observed in Shantijan market, Nagaon, where nearly a dozen traders are selling seeds from temporary stalls. They have neither permanent counters nor proper warehouses or quality control measures. Yet, the fact that they possess official licenses raises serious questions about regulatory oversight.

Agriculture Department Crackdown in Nagaon

Following media reports and intervention from higher authorities, the agriculture department has launched a crackdown in Nagaon.

• A team led by the District Agriculture Officer conducted surprise raids in the Shantijan market:
• Several unauthorized seed shops were sealed.
• Traders were given a strict warning.
• Legal action was threatened for repeat violations.

This action was necessary, but farmers say it's too little, too late.

How Farmers Can Identify Genuine Seeds and Avoid Fake Seed Scams

To avoid falling victim to counterfeit seed scams, farmers are advised to take the following precautions:

• Always check sealed packets and official certification labels

• Buy seeds only from authorized and licensed dealers

• Demand a proper bill and note the seller’s license number

• Avoid purchasing seeds at unusually low prices, as they are often fake

Assam Farmers' Issue: Trust Broken, Anger Growing

In this entire case, farmers have suffered the most because many have already faced the impact of counterfeit seeds, leading to crop failure, financial losses, and increased debt burden.

Farmers say that to stop the fake seed racket in Nagaon district, action should be taken not only against the traders but also against the responsible officials. Farmers demand that accountability be fixed and that such incidents do not happen again in the future.

The Way Forward: Transparency and Accountability are Essential

This entire Assam farmers' issue is not limited to just one district. It is a warning that if monitoring and transparency are not increased, the farming community will lose faith in the system.

To put it simply – deceiving farmers is not just a crime, but a loss for the entire society.

What is needed now is: A strict verification system, a transparent licensing process, and strong action in the best interest of the farmers.

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