The order follows earlier action in which the Punjab Chief Minister and SSP Patiala had received complaints from farmers, prompting the formation of a specialist committee. (File photo)The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Patiala, has ordered compensation of ₹76,800 per acre to farmers whose sunflower crops failed in 2022 due to the supply of spurious seeds. The order was passed by Commission President Pushvinder Singh and Member Gurdev Singh Nagi against dealers Sham Trading Company (New Grain Market, Rajpura) and Rajpura Pesticides (Krishna Market, Rajpura), and the manufacturer, M/s Synergene Crop Innovations, Sri Krishna Enclave, Balajinagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad.The Commission also orally awarded an additional compensation of ₹35,000 to each aggrieved farmer for mental agony. The seeds in question were manufactured by M/s Synergene Crop Innovations, whose licence had expired in 2019, making them unauthorised to sell in Punjab.The case was heard by the Patiala Consumer Commission and it decided in favour of the farmers on August 4, 2025.The order follows earlier action in which the Punjab Chief Minister and SSP Patiala had received complaints from farmers, prompting the formation of a specialist committee. That committee had initially recommended ₹17,000 per acre compensation to 20 farmers for losses over 88 acres. However, out of these 20 farmers, 12 had filed cases in the consumer court, said Nagi.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd