APC warns farmers against use of seeds from unknown source

Dimapur, Aug. 8 (EMN): The agriculture production commissioner, Y Kikheto Sema, has requested all departments concerned to issue necessary instructions to the district heads to inform farmers not to solicit or use seeds that are received through parcels with ‘mislabelled packages of unknown source or seeds of unknown origin’.

In an official communiqué, Sema had cited a letter from the ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, which had warned of a threat of unsolicited/suspicious seed parcels with mislabelled packages from unknown sources being reported in many countries like US, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Japan and some European nations.

“The US department of Agriculture termed it as ‘brushing scam’ and ‘agricultural smuggling’ and also reported that the unsolicited seed parcels may contain seeds of an alien invasive species or an attempt to introduce pathogens or disease that may pose serious threats to environment, agriculture ecosystem and national security,” read the letter.

Therefore, if such parcels are received or noticed, the matter should be immediately reported to authorities for necessary action, Sema added.