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| Farmers unhappy with Govt for showing no concern to their damaged crops | | | Syed Tahir Bukhari
KUPWARA, Oct 2 : Recent floods have exposed the capacity of the state government to deal with the crisis. Farmers are up in arms against it for not giving due consideration to their problems as the recent floods have extensively damaged their paddy and maize crops in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
Mohammad Ashraf Dar of Shumnag said, "Due to floods, there was a delay in the harvesting of paddy and crops like maize, wheat and apple. All were badly damaged after the rains stopped."
Standing crops in scores of villages of Kupwara district were seen floating in flood water accumulated in the fields. "The flood has damaged the crops extensively," said Shabir Ahmad, a farmer of Trehgam. Having been badly hit by devastating flash floods, farmers in Kupwara district are eagerly waiting for financial support from the government. They said need of the hour is 'rehabilitation of farmers' which may take a lot of time as the government has not provided funds for the purpose. Development of agriculture and rehabilitation of farmers is crucial as over 60 per cent of the people are depending on the sector directly or indirectly.
Mohammad Subhan Mir of Zachaldara, Handwara, said agriculture and farmers had witnessed huge devastation during recent floods. "Farmers in Halmethpora, Mawar, Wouskura, Trehgam and other adjoining areas of Handwara have not only lost standing crops and orchards but their fields have also been eroded by floods and made uncultivable by accumulated sand, silt, and water. Waterlogging, salinity and soil erosion caused by the floods may deprive them of income this year". "Farming are also likely to face a potential shortage of seeds and fertilisers in coming months. With hundreds of tons of wheat and maize seeds having been washed away by recent flood, the government should provide free ration to farmers," Mir added.
A senior official of agriculture department told early times that the farmers had lost standing crops in many areas and there was a greater loss of orchard fields.
"The escalating debt burden of farmers also needs immediate intervention. Agriculture loans of all farmers should be written off or at least interest thereon be remitted. The government should give easy farm and non-farm loans to small farmers to increase their incomes," he said. |
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