Bhubaneswar: After concluding its probe into the allegations of losses faced by farmers in five districts following the failure of hybrid paddy crops grown under a Secunderabad-based seed company’s production programme over two seasons, agriculture and farmers’ empowerment department has advised them to seek legal recourse against the firm over alleged non-payment of compensation.In an official communication to one of the affected farmers, Prasanna Kumar Rout of Aradaulia in Jajpur district, on Monday, the department said that a detailed inquiry into the grievance has been conducted. As per the agreement between the parties, disputes fall under the jurisdiction of courts in Hyderabad/Secunderabad with appropriate pecuniary jurisdiction, it said.The department suggested that Rout initiate appropriate legal proceedings in accordance with the contractual provisions to seek settlement of his compensation claim arising from low production and crop losses.Farmers claimed the company had promised Rs 60,000 per acre as compensation in case of low production or crop failure, but no payment was made.Rout, however, expressed concern over the govt’s response, saying the issue involves around 600 farmers in the state. “The company has cheated us by not paying our dues. But the govt has passed the matter back to us. How can we fight a big company without the govt support? The govt could have blacklisted the company for cheating farmers,” he says.Earlier, the Odisha govt had ordered a probe into the allegations that farmers in five districts suffered losses after the company allegedly failed to pay compensation following the failure of the hybrid paddy crops grown under its seed-production programme..According to farmer representatives, the company engaged around 600 cultivators in Boudh, Cuttack, Puri, Jajpur and Bhadrak districts for hybrid paddy seed production during 2023-24 and 2024-25. Another 60 farmers in Boudh had also cultivated the seeds in 2023-24, but the crop reportedly failed.“After the first crop failure, when the farmers sought compensation, the company assured them it would be paid in the next crop season. Company officials and farmer organisers held a meeting in Secunderabad on Sept 11, 2024. We trusted them and took up cultivation again in 2024-25,” Rout said.Rout alleged that though the company collected the farmers’ signatures on agreements, it did not return signed copies despite repeated requests. The company only paid Rs 25,000 per acre as an advance, while farmers spent about Rs 48,000 per acre on cultivation, excluding land and labour costs, Rout said.