Assam farmers threaten suicide over poor maize seeds

Farmers at Assam’s Abhayapuri town in Bongaigaon district today threatened to commit suicide in protest against the spurious quality of maize seeds distributed to them by the state government.

Maize. AFP

Even though the maize plants bloomed fully in the 43,200 square feet land under plantation, there was hardly any yield in them, the farmers alleged. The poor production has pushed the 50-odd farmers to a severe financial crisis.
Ironically, these farmers registered a record production last year by selling many quintals of produce in the market. However, this year they were convinced by the state agriculture department to use the maize seeds distributed by them, a local TV channel NewsLive reported.
The farmers today gathered in front of the agriculture department office in Abhayapuri and threatened to end their lives without adequate compensation.