Khammam — District Collector Muzammil Khan has issued a strong warning to seed traders: selling fake seeds will lead to strict legal action. He made this clear during a meeting with seed retailers and agriculture officials at the Collectorate on Tuesday.
Khan stressed that all seed sales must follow government rules. Every seed bag must display a clear label with the expiry date and other key details. Farmers must also receive a proper receipt showing the date of purchase and seed information.
The Collector directed the Agriculture Department to assess the expected demand for seeds ahead of the upcoming monsoon season. He instructed them to ensure that enough quality seeds are available across the district.
Only those with valid licenses are allowed to sell seeds, he said. Any unlicensed or illegal sales will be dealt with seriously. Agricultural Extension Officers (AEOs) are responsible for acting quickly against illegal seed sellers within their assigned areas.
Khan urged AEOs to gather complete information from farmers during crop booking, including the source of the seeds they plan to use. This will help track and prevent the spread of counterfeit seeds.
A proper inspection schedule will soon be in place. Each seed shop in the district will be fully checked using a prepared checklist. During the last season, nearly 100 cotton and chilli farmers lost crops because of fake seeds. Khan said such incidents must not happen again.
The Collector made it clear: the government stands with the farmers. Anyone caught cheating them will face firm action under various laws. He emphasized that the administration will not tolerate any harm to agricultural livelihoods.
If fake seeds are sold, responsible dealers will be required to compensate the affected farmers. Khan also asked all retailers to report any knowledge of counterfeit seeds to the nearby Agricultural Extension Officer without delay.
