Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 22: Seeking relief for the farmers of rice cultivation in Jammu region and adequate action against the departmental officials who are responsible for the low production of the paddy crop this year, former Minister and senior BJP leader, Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar demanded full compensation and insurance payments to the farmers of the region.
“Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has launched numerous schemes for the welfare of the farmers but due to the negligence of some agriculture officials here, we are suffering major losses this year as far as rice cultivation is concerned”, said Sukhnandan Kumar.
This year, already the farmers of our region are suffering because of the dreaded lumpy disease in cattle. Now, this low paddy crop has broken the spine of the farmers whose livelihood is based on rice cultivation only.
The former Minister, Sukhnandan Kumar has sought a comprehensive detailed report from the Department of Agriculture for this failure is growth of paddy seed. “We have brought here some samples to show to the media the size of the paddy cultivation this year. We have very poor output this year,” said Sukhnandan Kumar.
LG Manoj Sinha has always supported the cause of villagers and the farmers, the former Minister, Sukhnandan Kumar said, adding “This time I also sought his attention so that the villagers are saved from this turmoil as their rice cultivation is at ground zero.”
“Our agriculture officials never visit the spots and even they never visit the rice cultivation sites in the neighboring states to learn and educate the farmers so that the local farmers are benefitted, the former Minister said, adding, “I also sought a stern action against those who are responsible for supply of low quality paddy seeds to Jammu based farmers.”
“Jammu farmer is already a neglected lot and this type of loss to the farmers make their economic condition more worse, said Sukhnandan Kumar, adding, now we appeal to the Government for compensation to all those farmers whose rice cultivation is at the verge of complete damage. “You can see the height of the paddy crop this year, where from this low quality seed has been sold in Jammu region, Sukhnandan questioned.
“This problem is not only in Marh, Kanachak or Akhnoor sector, we have received complaint from Bishnah, Arnia and RS Pura sector, the major contributor in rice cultivation”, Sukhnandan Kumar said.
The rice seeds of numbers 6444 PHV71, 17, 18, 1692, 2344, 2377 have been found to be of low quality, the ex-Minister said, adding “This seed was adulterated or damaged we don’t know.”
“We seek a detailed probe into this major lapse wherein the farmers are the biggest sufferers,” stated Sukhnandan Kumar.
Those who were present in the press briefing include Narayan Dutt, Sarpanch Balbir Singh, Tarseem Sharma and Kuldeep Singh.
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