Ranchi, May 20: The district administration today came down heavily on traders supplying substandard seeds to farmers.

The drive comes ahead of the sowing season to preclude the possibility of farmers suffering heavy losses because of poor yield at the time of harvest.

A source said a team led by sub-divisional officer Bhor Singh Yadav today conducted raids from 8am to 4pm and sealed a godown full of sub-standard seeds at Bijulia. Three persons involved in the business were arrested from different parts of the district.

SDO Yadav said raids were carried out at two places at Kutchery and one place at Bijulia, about 20km from the city under Ratu police station area, following a tip-off.

"At Kutchery, two shops - Krishi Dhan and Krishi India - were raided. They were selling spurious vegetable seeds. One Manoj Kumar was arrested from Krishi India, while Priya Kumari was nabbed from Krishi Dhan. Priya's husband Mantu was also involved in the business but he escaped. An FIR was lodged at Kotwali police station," Yadav added.

The Bijulia godown was stacked with more than 2,000 gunny bags containing spurious seeds of pea, onion, gram, coriander, wheat and paddy.

"One Hemendra Kumar Singh was arrested from the godown. An FIR was registered at Ratu police station."

Yadav was accompanied by a seed inspector who could identify defective seeds that would either fail to germinate or result in low yield.