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Spurious Seeds and Fake Inputs Hit Cotton Farmers in Yavatmal and Buldhana

Spurious Seeds and Fake Inputs Hit Cotton Farmers in Yavatmal and Buldhana
Spurious Seeds and Fake Inputs Hit Cotton Farmers in Yavatmal and Buldhana

The market lanes in Vidarbha’s cotton belt have always been busy before the sowing season. Small groups of farmers gather around agri-shops, inspecting seed packets and asking questions. This seasonal pattern is now shadowed by distrust.


Fake seeds, spurious fertilisers, and counterfeit pesticides have quietly infiltrated agricultural supply chains, pushing already vulnerable farmers into a deeper crisis.



The Rise of Counterfeit Inputs in Cotton Cultivation


Over the last two years, cotton-growing districts across Maharashtra have seen a worrying increase in the circulation of fake agricultural inputs.


Regions like Yavatmal and Buldhana have emerged as epicentres of this crisis. Cotton farmers, heavily dependent on genetically modified varieties such as Bollgard II Bt, now face additional uncertainty over the authenticity of the seeds they sow.


In April 2022, authorities in Yavatmal seized fake BT cotton seeds valued at approximately ₹28 lakh. The packets, traced back to Karnataka and routed through Telangana, were being sold at ₹930 each.

Promising legitimate yields at a lower price, these seeds would have landed in the fields of unsuspecting farmers across the district. Police arrested two individuals linked to this consignment, revealing an inter-state trade network operating below the radar of regulatory systems.


This case was not an exception. Around the same time, another complaint emerged from Pusad tehsil in Yavatmal. A private seed company’s manager was charged with selling counterfeit BT cotton seeds worth ₹5 lakh to more than two dozen farmers.


Laboratory analysis confirmed these seeds were incapable of germination. Several farmers suffered crop failures before the monsoon had fully arrived, and the investment they had made in tilling land, labour, and irrigation offered no return.



The issue is not limited to illegal sales. There is a parallel trend of unauthorised seed variants entering the farming ecosystem. HTBt cotton seeds, genetically modified for herbicide tolerance, remain unapproved for cultivation in India.


Despite this, these seeds are readily available in informal markets and are used in fields across Yavatmal, Wardha, and neighbouring districts.

Even though the Union Environment Ministry has urged Maharashtra’s administration to take action against the use of unapproved seeds, their accessibility persists. Farmers continue to report that these seeds are easy to procure, and there is little clarity at the ground level about their regulatory status or long-term implications.


Impact on Agricultural Output and Farmer Investments

Impact on Agricultural Output and Farmer Investments
Impact on Agricultural Output and Farmer Investments

When a cotton crop fails to germinate, the damage is immediate and irreversible. Seed quality is the first determinant of a successful crop cycle.


Spurious seeds compromise this foundation. In cases where partial germination occurs, the surviving plants often exhibit weak growth and are more prone to pest attacks and stunted development. The expected yield, even in favourable conditions, drops significantly.


In Vidarbha, nearly 97 percent of cotton farmers rely on genetically modified seeds, and the region has roughly 16 lakh hectares under cotton cultivation.


When substandard seeds are sown, even if only in parts of this total area, the losses multiply across households and local markets.

For districts like Yavatmal and Buldhana, where cotton farming drives the local economy, this disruption affects not only farmers but also labourers, input dealers, and transporters linked to the supply chain.



The financial burden of counterfeit inputs extends beyond seeds. Farmers invest significant resources in fertilisers, irrigation, and pest management during the early crop cycle.


When seeds fail to germinate or plants exhibit poor health, these additional investments are wasted. Small and marginal farmers, who often take seasonal loans to fund their input purchases, struggle to recover from these setbacks.


Many are left without the capital needed to attempt a second sowing or purchase inputs for the next season.


In several cases, the reaction to crop underperformance has been the increased use of pesticides.

With plants appearing weak or stunted, some farmers attempt to protect whatever yield remains by spraying pesticide cocktails. In the absence of proper guidance, these mixtures often contain non-recommended chemicals. This overapplication increases costs, damages the environment, and in some instances, poses health risks.


In cotton-growing regions, particularly Yavatmal, the consequences of dubious inputs have extended to health concerns. Past investigations into farmer deaths related to pesticide exposure have highlighted unsafe spraying practices.


A report by the Central Institute for Cotton Research found that several factors contributed to health risks. Incorrect mixing of chemicals, use of non-standard protective gear, and high humidity during spraying allowed higher absorption of harmful substances.


These risks are magnified when counterfeit or substandard pesticides are involved. Farmers often purchase these products from the same informal networks that supply spurious seeds.

Without access to proper guidance, they apply unlabelled or poorly labelled chemicals on their crops. The result is not only physical harm but also increased economic burden, as these pesticides fail to deliver the protection they promise.


Beyond physical health, the financial loss from counterfeit inputs has a direct effect on mental well-being. In Buldhana and Yavatmal, where cotton is the main livelihood, a failed crop cycle due to fake seeds or fertilisers can dismantle an entire household’s financial planning.


Farmers face loan defaults, the risk of losing land or equipment, and an inability to support education or healthcare for their families. The psychological impact of this economic failure is profound, especially in regions already grappling with high rates of farm distress.


Though there is no single dataset that attributes farmer suicides directly to the use of counterfeit inputs, field-level evidence suggests a clear chain of distress.

Failed crops, unpaid loans, and increasing debt push farmers into desperate situations. In the absence of institutional support or timely compensation, this economic pressure deepens existing crises in cotton-producing communities.



Regulatory Measures and Enforcement Challenges


Over the past two years, state and central authorities have increased efforts to intercept and eliminate the distribution of spurious agricultural inputs.


Seizures like the ₹28 lakh fake seed consignment in Yavatmal point to heightened vigilance. However, these actions are only part of a larger, complex problem.


India’s regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms is guided by the 1989 rules under the Environment Protection Act.

Implementation responsibilities lie with state-level Biotechnology Coordination Committees and District Level Committees. These bodies are expected to monitor seed quality, check unauthorised genetic material, and coordinate enforcement. Yet, the continued availability of illegal HTBt seeds and counterfeit fertilisers across districts suggests that regulatory gaps remain.


In multiple reported cases, fake seeds have passed through several checkpoints without detection. Their packaging mimics that of genuine products, and the cost advantage makes them attractive to dealers and farmers alike.


The informal networks through which these inputs travel often operate across state boundaries, making it difficult to track and intercept shipments in real time.



The communication from the Union Ministry to Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary, calling for firm action against HTBt cultivation, underscores a systemic weakness in enforcement. While advisory notices are issued, implementation at the district level remains uneven.


Farmers continue to buy illegal seeds because they are widely available and not flagged at the point of sale.

There is also a shortage of testing infrastructure at the local level. In many cases, the quality of seeds and fertilisers is only verified after a complaint is filed. This reactive approach delays intervention and fails to protect farmers before harm occurs.


When seeds are fake and inputs are faulty, the risk begins before the first rains fall. For cotton farmers in Yavatmal and Buldhana, the presence of counterfeit products in their supply chains threatens more than seasonal output, it jeopardises entire livelihoods.


Each fake seed packet sold in the name of savings carries the cost of potential failure. As investigations continue and seizures are reported, the visibility of the issue has grown, but for farmers in Vidarbha, the threat has been real for much longer.

What appears in a sealed packet on a shop shelf carries consequences that reach far beyond the field. The growing concern over agricultural input authenticity reflects not just a regulatory challenge but a deep vulnerability within rural economies. Until that trust is restored, every sowing season in Maharashtra’s cotton belt will begin with more questions than answers.


References





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