JHENIDAH, DEC 25: Maize farmers in Kaliganj upazila of the district have been ruined after using High Yielding Variety (HYV) of maize seeds named ‘Miracle’ in their lands in the current season. nMaize cultivator Intaz Uddin alleged that he has cultivated maize in one and half bighas of land. He had bought one kilogram of Miracle HYV maize seeds at the rate of Tk 400 per kg. He has already spent around Tk 14,000 on his land but buds are not yet visible in the plants in his maize field. Some farmers alleged that they planted ‘Miracle’ seeds after discussing with Miracle Company Representative Osman Ali. But the plants have not produced buds yet. After visiting the lands of Intaz Uddin, Alamgir Biswas, Ripon Mondol, Romzan Biswas, Manik Saha and Mofiz Uddin at Boro-Ghigati village in the upazila this correspondent found that maize seeds were sowed in the lands one and a half months ago, but buds have not yet appeared on the plants. On the other hand, the plants are producing a bunch of leaves day by day but no buds. Another farmer alleged that on December 5 last representatives and higher authority of Auto Crops Fair Market Development Company had visited the area, at that time the frustrated farmers besieged them and demanded their money back. The company representatives declared that they will give Tk 6,000 for every bigha of land where maise seeds have been sowed. But they have neither returned nor made any contract with the farmers. Fertilizers and pesticides trader of Lawtola bus stand area Alamgir Hossen alleged that he had cultivated ‘Miracle’ maize seeds and has been facing the same problem. He added that company representative Osman Ali told his that he will get 40 maunds of maize from one bigha of land but the percentage is still zero. Sources said, at least 600 kgs of seeds have been sold at Lawtola and Baliyadanga, Boro-Ghigati, Nim Tola, Barobazaar, Shundorpur-Durgapur, Niyamotpur, Shimla-Rokonpur, Raigram, Kastovanga, Kolarbazaar, Chaprailbazaar, Rakhalgachi, Gazir Bazaar of Kaliganj upazila and everywhere the situation is same. The representatives of Auto Crops Fair Market Development Company said, the seeds have no problem. The cluster type leaves are due to pest attack. Kaliganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Shohidul Islam said, the maize seeds were affected by pests before plantation. So the farmers have to suffer huge losses this year. He added that they had visited the area and there is no solution to the problem at present. The farmers demanded immediate solution to the problem and recovery of the lost money so that they can cultivate other crops in their lands. (Source:theindependent,Dec 27,2012)