G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 25: After assuming power at the Center, the National Democratic Alliance led by Narender Modi had repeatedly claimed that it would leave no stone unturned to give good support prices of farmers' produce. On the contrary to it, for last three consecutive years, the low price of paddy has left farmer community on the mercy of God; while the price of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds has increased manifold.
However, two years back, the then state coalition government (NC-Congress) had announced that due to ban on basmati export, the price of paddy was low but after lifting the ban on export, there is no change on ground so far.
Castigating anti farmer policies of either the Union government or State government, Raman Kumar, a basmati grower from Kathua said that in 2012-13 the price of basmati 370 was nearly Rs 7,000, paddy 1121 was Rs 4500 and the price of China was Rs 1500 per quintals. "If we compare with this year price of paddy, the price of Basmati 370 is 1800-2000 per quintals, paddy 1121 is 1200-1300 and while the price of paddy china is 900 per quintals", he said.
Raman kumar further said, "The government's cause of concern towards farmer community can be gauged from this fact that the cost of production is increased many folds, whereas the price of farmers' produces have decreased substantially."
"As a result, the farmer community is unable to recover initial investment made during sowing and harvesting season so far", he added.
Another farmer, Ram Lal from RS Pura said that however, the incumbent PDP- BJP coalition government during its maiden budget had made two big announcement in favour of farmers i,e waive off 50 percent Kisan Credit Card loans and abolition of water tax (awana) of farmers across the state, but unfortunatelyafter lapse of nine months, all the announcements is proving as merely a rhetoric.
"Due to low price of paddy, the marginalized farmers neither able to return loan of KCC nor capable to reinvest in future on crop", Ram Lal said. |
