Ajay Sharma
Rajouri, December 4: Farmers across Jammu region have accused the Agriculture Department of gross mismanagement and deep-rooted corruption after distribution of vital wheat (Kanak) seeds for the Rabi season completely failed to reach the farmers this year.
According to sources, several aggrieved farmers and whistle-blowers claimed that “not a single seed” of the promised high-yielding wheat varieties has reached actual tillers.
“The department is zero on the ground. Only photographs of senior officers handing over seed bags to each other appear in newspapers, but farmers have got nothing,” one farmer said.
Sources alleged that both junior and senior officers are more interested in securing “choice postings” and pleasing higher-ups than ensuring benefits reach genuine beneficiaries.
“Whenever anyone raises a voice in the media, officers rush to appease their bosses instead of fixing the problem,” a whistleblower claimed and added that multiple complaints of large-scale fraud in previous schemes have been pending with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for years, yet no inquiry has been ordered.
“Many Directors retired without taking any action, current officers are also silent. Verbal complaints, written complaints, everything falls on deaf ears because everyone in the chain is powerful,” the whistleblower said and added that even the centrally and UT-sponsored schemes meant for Scheduled Tribe (ST) and other reserved category farmers have not reached farmers.
Despite the BJP-led central government granting ST status to several communities in Jammu region, farmers claimed the Agriculture Department has either completely denied them benefits or diverted subsidised inputs to relatives and friends of field-level officials.
“Local Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) and Junior Agriculture Extension Officer (JAEOs) belong to the area. They naturally favour their own people, relatives, and those who can pull political strings. Why would they help a common farmer?” alleged a whistleblower on anonymity.
Insiders say the rot runs deep because many field officials secure postings in their home districts or “lucrative” areas by obliging local political leaders and senior officers.
“That is why even glaring irregularities are ignored. The Director looks the other way because action would upset the entire patronage network,” sources claimed.
Farmers demanded that an immediate high-level inquiry into non-distribution of wheat seeds this season should be initiated and a time-bound investigation into all pending ACB complaints against Agriculture Department officials may also be pursued.
