Epitaph for mega seed park at Kurnool

KURNOOL: Mega Seed Park at Tangadanche village near Nandikotkur was a major announcement in the 2018-19 budget presented by the previous government.

However there was no mention about it in the budget presented by finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy.

Scientists at Mega Seed park said it is now a closed chapter and the project was dead.

Tangadanche had been quite a popular name in the production of seeds since 1970s. Its prospects fell on bad times ever since former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu converted it into a Mega Seed Park by roping in Iowa University and Mellinada Bill Gates Foundation.

“The reverse course of action taken up by the Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy sealed the fate of the Seed Park and the budget document confirms the death of the project,” said a scientist.

Though Kurnool district had given 14 MLAs to YSRC in the recently held elections, there was no tangible budgetary allocation for any of the projects in the district. The FM is also from Kurnool district representing Dhone constituency. He also could not make any effort to list projects from the district. Gundrevula and Siddeshwaram were important projects to the district.

An MLA from the district said “We do not have any influence, The huge majority given to Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy have made us insignificant so far as wielding any influence with him is concerned. It is him alone! We have to just follow him.”

The corridors of power were buzzing with talks that MLAs were rendered powerless. Officials were told not to go out of the way and do any favours even if the representation was made by an MLA. “This is akin to making us toothless,” he said.

Nandikotkur MLA Thouguru Arthur, when contacted, said that he would take up the issue with the Chief Minister with regard to seed manufacturing at Tangadanche.

He said “I do not know the background of Mega Seed Park. I will certainly escalate the issue with the Chief Minister,” he said.

Nandikotkur is ideal for seed cultivation as the climatic conditions helps in germination of quality seeds. Prior to the Mega Seed Park project in 2017, Tangadanche seed production was under the aegis of NG Ranga Agriculture University.

Scientists were working on a 800 acre farm successfully producing new varieties of chick pea, Bengal gram and pulses seeds.

But after the lands got earmarked for a mega seed park, scientists of NG Ranga Agriculture University stopped producing seedlings. “The 800 acre land has become barren and now it is lush with thorns and shrubs,” said a scientist.