Paradip, April 4: An inquiry committee has been ordered to investigate the alleged supply of substandard and spurious potato seeds to farmers in Kendrapara district's Garadpur block.

The seeds, which the state horticulture department had supplied to the farmers, failed to reap enough yield. The seeds did not germinate and the plants were found barren with little produce.

"An inquiry has been put in force to check the alleged supply of substandard potato seeds. The horticulture department has been asked to expeditiously probe into the charge and submit a report," said Kendrapara collector Pramod Kumar Das.

Kendrapara horticulture department chief Bishnu Charna Das said: "We are receiving allegations about the barren seeds. We are inquiring the reason behind such seeds. A report has been submitted in this regard to the concerned authorities. A private supplier from Bhubaneswar had provided the seeds."

When the farmers in other parts of the state are in high spirits following bumper produce, potato growers in Garadpur bore the brunt of abysmally low production. "The local farmers were elated to receive seeds at highly subsidized price. But that jot was short lived. Somehow, we managed to grow a few plants after the seeds underwent germination process. However, our labour did not bear much fruit," said Yashobant Rout, a farmer.

"The hard work has gone in vain. I had started potato farming last November. The seeds were provided to us by a government agency. However, the produce was disappointing. I have lost a lot of money. I am shattered," said Harihar Biswal, a farmer from Garadpur.

The farmers alleged that the seeds should have been cross-checked and there should have been a quality test before the delivery.

However, the horticulture officials did nothing as such, said Gayadhar Dhal, an office-bearer of the district wing of the Odisha Krushak Sabha.