Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene said officials of the agriculture department of Raitha Sampark Kendras in Yadrami taluk of Kalaburagi district were charging exorbitant prices for seeds and pesticides and collecting extra amount for the rental of agricultural equipment to farmers.

Hasiru Sene district president Mahantgouda Nandihalli, speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, said pesticides purchased from private companies are sold at Raitha Sampark Kendras at a price of ₹220 per packet against the maximum retail price of ₹170 per package.

He said the price of a 20 kg bag of Bengal Gram seeds has been fixed at ₹1,220 for farmers belonging to scheduled castes and tribes, but it is being sold at ₹1,400 for a bag of 20 kg. Similarly, for general category farmers, it is sold at ₹1,600 against a fixed rate of ₹1,470.

He said authorities were demanding bribes from farmers for renting mini tractors and other equipment for agricultural activities.

Although the matter was brought to the notice of the joint director and deputy director of the Ministry of Agriculture several times in the last four months, no action has been taken against the corrupt officials, he said. -he declared.

The Sene demanded that Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge should suspend officials indulging in corrupt practices in the Raitha Sampark Kendras of Yadrami taluk. He also urged him to transfer the joint director and deputy director of the agriculture department to Kalaburagi.

The Sene members have warned that they will stage a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi, if the government does not take any action against these agriculture ministry officials.