Jammu, July 29 (JNA): BJP Kissan Morcha State President Karan Singh Chib said that it is a matter of concern that the plight of the farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu Province in particular, has not improved to the desired level. Even after 63 years of independence, the problems being faced by the farmers could have been avoided very early had the successive governments in the State been serious towards their welfare and uplift, he mentioned.
In a resolution adopted at one day working committee meeting, Chib mentioned that state Government has not formulated any concrete policy for the farmers till date. Every year, there are complaints of delay and inadequate supply of seeds, fertilizers and other required items. At every election time, the government sheds crocodile tears to win their sympathy and assurances are given freely at the highest level to be forgotten later. Hollow promises are made but on ground there is no change, the situation remains as it was on day one, he added.
"While the farmers in neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana are blessed with huge network of irrigation canals and the governments there have taken all possible and effective steps to ensure that the farmers are not made to suffer due to lack of seeds, fertilizers or other items at the time of need. In Jammu and Kashmir, the position is entirely different. Many a times, the crops of the farmers get damaged due to natural calamities like floods, droughts and thundering etc, and in absence of proper Crop Insurance Schemes they suffer huge losses." He alleged.
He demanded that the State Government should encourage and enhance the production of the world famous basmati rice from Jammu region on the same pattern and in the same spirit as that of promotion of fruits and other cash crops from Kashmir Valley, the government should protect the farmers of the State from the big business houses making huge profits at the cost of poor farmers through Trademark and such other means. The government should evolve a method through geographical Trade Marking and such other means to give due recognition and the protection to the agricultural produce of state farmers, the distribution and sale of fertilizer, seeds and pesticides should be rationalized and made available to the farmers of the far-flung areas near their homes by establishing sale outlets and godowns in those areas, Subsidy on dug wells should be increased to 75% etc. |