DARBHANGA, Dec. 14 -- A large number of farmers in Bihar's Darbhanga district are staring at losses this rabi season after wheat seeds supplied through the agriculture department failed to germinate even 15-20 days after sowing, triggering distress calls and demands for compensation. Farmers from Benipur, Sadar, Hayaghat and Biraul blocks said they procured subsidised wheat seeds from Kisan Bhawan at their respective block offices after completing the mandatory registration process, but large tracts of land remain barren weeks after sowing. Muneshwar Rai, an affected farmer, said he purchased nine bags of seed for around Rs.9,000. "Even after 15 days, there is no sprouting. The sowing window is closing fast, and our entire crop cycle is at risk," he said. Another farmer pointed out that Rs.200 per kattha was spent on ploughing, Rs.1,800 per bag on fertiliser and Rs.1,000 per bag on seed. "Everything has gone to waste," he said. The issue was taken up by Benipur MLA and JD(U) spokesperson Prof Binay Kumar Choudhary, who wrote to Bihar agriculture minister Ramkripal Yadav earlier this month, seeking immediate intervention and compensation for affected farmers. Prof Choudhary told Hindustan Times on Saturday that the HD-2967 wheat variety was sown strictly as per departmental guidelines, yet failed to germinate, resulting in financial losses and wastage of crucial time. "Farmers followed all prescribed norms, but the seeds did not sprout. An inquiry must be conducted and affected farmers compensated without delay," the MLA wrote to the agriculture minister, warning that any further inaction could deepen agrarian distress in the region. Taking note of the complaint, agriculture minister Ramkripal Yadav assured the legislator that the matter has been forwarded to the concerned authorities for scrutiny and necessary action. Meanwhile, at a meeting of the district-level Fertiliser Monitoring Committee in Darbhanga on Saturday, the Benipur MLA forcefully raised farmers' concerns, questioning the poor germination of subsidised HD-2967 wheat seed supplied to farmers this season....