Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Feeling unattended by local administration in present lockdown, farmers of Jammu urged the Government to mitigate the problems being faced by them due to present lockdown.
In a statement issued here, today Tajinder Singh Wazir, president JK Kissan Council and ex member JK Kissan Board said that farmers appreciated various steps of the Government to minimize spread of COVID -19 Virus with the strict enforcement of countrywide lockdown.
However, they feel totally ignored by local administration in recent grim scenario where the small vegetable growers and dairy farm owners face hardships to sale their produce as compared to States of Harayana and Punjab where special passes were issued to farmers for their daily sale of produce as an essential commodity. He said particularly flowers and high value vegetable grower of poly houses are badly affected due to closer of restaurants, hotels and worship places. Farmers had collected flowers for Navratras season worth Rs 10 crore and high value vegetables are in loss. Even some farmers who have taken loans from banks for establishment of units under different CSS schemes are worst hit as financial year is near close and their condition is bad as they are under the burden of financial loans.
Wazir said these farmers need sympathetic approach for release of assistance. Already farmers dealing in poultry and fish face huge losses worth Rs 300 crore due to certain rumors set in motion. It is totally a worried situation for them and farmers fear worst and there are also chances of complete destruction of Rabi crops due to unavailability of laborer and combine for harvest of wheat which are coming from other States of India. Farmers appealed to Lt Governor to announce a special package for poly house growers especially flowers growers to give them relief in Bank interest and make a provision for advance drawl of assistance under CSS for them in different schemes so that they may not suffer.
He demanded special passes should be issued from concerned Chief Agricultural offices for trouble free moment of farmers with their produce for sale and their grievances be redressed immediately.
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