Barmer, June 13 -- The state government's initiative to boost date palm cultivation failed as male plants were supplied instead of fruit-bearing females leaving farmers in 17 selected districts of Rajasthan with barren plantations, an official familiar with the matter. "In the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24, 37,094 tissue-cultured date palm plants were supplied in several districts for the date palm project. When the plants failed in fruiting, farmers observed flower spathes appearing, male flowers on female plants, and abnormal growth in many," said Suresh Kumar Ola, state commissioner at horticulture department. The plants were distributed in Ajmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Dausa, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, Sirohi, Didwana, Kuchaman, Balotra, Phalodi, Beawar, and Tonk. The officials further said that a committee was formed to investigate all fields and submit a report. "So far, the report confirms that 7,251 plants are 'off-type'. We have warned the companies to compensate the farmers, otherwise legal action will be taken," he said. Banwari Lal, deputy director of the horticulture department in Barmer, confirmed the significant error in the date palm distribution, adding that male plants were supplied instead of fruit-bearing females. "These plants were distributed during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 periods. In March of this year, when the trees were expected to be ready to grow dates, nothing happened. When the plants failed to bear fruit, it was discovered that the problem stemmed from genetic mismatches - specifically, male plants were supplied instead of fruit-bearing female plants," he said. He further said: "This is a serious issue. The complaints were found to be genuine. The department has warned the company to supply the correct plants, but it did not respond. Following this, the department is planning to initiate legal proceedings against the companies." According to an official, under the scheme, two major cooperative bodies-the National Federation of Farmers' Procurement, Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the National Federation of Construction and Development Cooperative Ltd. (NFCD) - distributed 37,094 tissue-cultured date palm plants across selected districts....