Farmers to get seeds at doorsteps, 2000 qtls dispatched: Director
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 16: Amidst countrywide lockdown, thousands of farmers in the hilly areas of Jammu region are facing severe scarcity of maize seed and fertilizers while in many areas, the sowing of maize crop has been delayed.
Reports from many areas like Surankote, Mandi and Mendhar in in Poonch, Kandi-Budhal, Darhal, Thannamandi and Khawas areas of Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Latti, Dudu-Basantgarh, Chenani, Ramnagar and Pancheri area of Udhampur, Mahore and Arnas in Reasi besides Bani, Machedi, Malhar and Billawar areas of Kathua, revealed that farmers could not sow maize crops till now and their activity has been delayed by about two weeks. In most of the hilly areas, this sowing activity commences from first week of April every year. And in many areas the farmers depend on only one crop during the whole year.
The country wide lockdown has badly impacted the sowing activity in this part of the J&K UT. Non-availability of hybrid maize seed which is procured from Andhra Pradesh and Telengana by the J&K Agriculture department and failure of supplies of fertilizers in many areas of Jammu region, has added to the woes of the farmers. They felt that Coronavirus has already created terror among the people and now the fear of possible famine like situation haunts them. If the agriculture activity is delayed further due to non-cooperation from the Government, they will have to face hard times ahead.
Former Minister, Ch Zulfkar Ali said that he received several phone calls from Darhal, Kandi and Budhal areas in district Rajouri during last 2-3 days. The Sarpanches of these areas have alleged that due to non-availability of seeds, the sowing of maize crop has been delayed. Even the fertilizers is not available in the entire area. The farmers are facing hardships and as per the directions of the Prime Minister, the J&K UT Administration must help farmers to carry out their activity and provide them all possible assistance. Ali said he has also taken up the issue with the DC Rajouri and Director Agriculture, Jammu.
Sarpanch, Budhal Farooq Inqlabi said that people of this area mainly depend on maize crop. Generally, the farmers start this activity in first week of April. They are already late by 15 days and if they are unable to get seed and fertilizers for next one week, they are sure to face food crisis in coming months. He added that the matter has been taken up with the Tehsildar Budhal and SDM Kotranka.
Sarpanch, Pancheri ( Chulna), Kuldip Kumar said that this is hilly area of Udhampur district and farming activity is very limited. Those carry on this activity mostly sow maize crop. But farmers here are worried due to non-availability of seeds. He added the matter was taken up with concerned Agriculture officer and he has assured that supply will be made available within next 4-5 days. The crops time is going away and the farming community in entire Pancheri, Landhar, Mongri and adjoining Bamag areas is worried.
Sarpanch, Basantgarh and BDC chairman Kewal Parihar, Sarpanch Dudu-Des Raj and Sarpanch Lati, Kasturi Lal Gupta also projected the same issue and urged upon the Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Dr Piyush Singla and Director Agriculture, Inderjeet to ensure early supply of maize seed and fertilizers to the farmers of the area. Similar feedback was received from Gool, Mahore, Bhaderwah, Ramban, Banihal, Doda, Kishtwar, Surankote and Mandi Loran areas.
Director Agriculture, Jammu, Inderjeet when contacted said that Department procures hybrid maize seed from Andhra Pradesh and Telengana States. In Chinore Farm of Agriculture department in Jammu, only wheat and paddy seed is prepared. He said they have received sufficient quantity of maize seed and after testing, the supply has been started to all the districts. He claimed that in all most of the districts like Poonch, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur, Kishtwar and Rajouri etc the first consignment of seed has been sent. The Director claimed that there is no restriction on movement of vehicles carrying agriculture implements and the PM has already announced it in his message to the nation recently. He said fertilizers through private companies are also being provided to farmers and Agriculture department only monitors this supply being nodal agency.
Deputy Director, Central (Agr), Jammu, K K Sharma said that during last 3-4 days, about 2000 quintals of hybrid maize seed has been dispatched to various districts. About 2000 qts more are lying in the stores at Jammu, and these seeds will also be sent to the places from where the demand is projected. He said that department would ensure door to door (each village) delivery of seed. When asked about the delay of supply, Sharma said it happened due to countrywide lockdown. Moreover, non-availability of sufficient labourers and transport vehicles is yet also problem their officers are facing. Moreover, in certain pockets, restrictions on movement are hampering their activity. The Government and the DMs concerned need to provide full assistance to the Agriculture Department teams, he added.
When asked why farmers prefer hybrid maize seed and not prefer own stored seed, the Dy Director said the yield of hybrid seed per kanal is nearly 4 quintals while local seed gives just one quintal per kanal. Due to this reason, the farmers prefer hybrid maize seed which is procured from plants at Andhra Pradesh which has specialisation in the country.
Relying to a question, Sharma disclosed that during last four days, they have dispatched 294 quintals of hybrid maize seed to Poonch district, 60 quintals to Rajouri, 64 qtls to Kishtwar, 130 qtls to Doda, 138 qtls to Ramban, 169 qtls to Reasi while 90 qtls each to Udhampur and Kathua. In Jammu and Samba areas, crop is sown during onset of rainy season, he added.
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