Adm still in hang-over; farmers left to their fate
Jammu Tawi, Oct. 25: Torrential rains, hailstorm in various parts of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir destroyed crops, other agriculture produce standing in fields in several thousand hectares.
In Jammu Division, paddy crop, particularly the highly valued Basmati varieties standing in thousands of hectares and vegetables and vegetable seedlings of onion, potato, Cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, mustard, turnips, and radishes etc.) got destroyed due to heavy rains and unprecedented hailstorm in Ranbir Singh Pura, Bishnah, Samba, Ramgarh, Marh, Kathua and other areas of Jammu region. Farmers and orchardists have suffered immense losses to their crops and produce due to unseasonal rains/hailstorm that have lashed the entire Jammu region and in particular the paddy growing belt all along the International Border (IB) in Bishnah- R S Pura and Samba and other areas.
While the administration has mobilized the resources to assess the damages to fruit and agriculture crops in Kashmir valley on the very first day after the heavy rains, it has not shown the required sensitivity towards the similar rather more serious losses of crops in Jammu Division. Notably, the Advisor Farooq Khan has issued orders for immediate assessment of damages to orchards and crops in Kashmir valley on Oct 23rd itself. Interestingly, the entire administration remained pre-occupied with the high profile visit of the Union Home Minister to Jammu Kashmir on Oct. 23 – 24 and its hang-over even thereafter.
The Director Agriculture Jammu, Kamal Kishore Sharma accompanied by other senior officers and field officers of the Department and revenue department officers have conducted an extensive field visits to assess the crop losses due to hailstorm and heavy rains in Marh & Mishriwala areas, R.S. Pura, Akhnoor and Dansal sub divisions of Jammu district. Director Agriculture also visited Seed Multiplication Farm at Chak Jaggar, Marh Rice Procurement Mandi and interacted with affected farmers in distress and concerned officials of the Paddy Procurement Centres and the department. KK Sharma has reported that Within 12 hours there was an unprecedented 80 to over 100 mm of rainfall which not only damaged paddy and vegetables, but also the oil-seeds like Toria and freshly sown mustard crop. Damage has occurred in Vijaypur and Ramgarh areas too. Further losses are being assessed. He said that the damage tentamounted to a calamity. The Director has instructed the field staff to make detailed assessment of losses furnish the farmer-wise damage report immediately for further appropriate action.
The BJP Member of Parliament from Jammu, Jugal Kishore Sharma also accompanied by concerned officers and officials of administration have conducted extensive survey of agriculture areas on 24 October, along the International Border with Pakistan, R.S. Pura, Dablehar, Suchetgarh, Sai, Arnia , Bishnah and Marh areas and expressed urgent need to adequately compensate the farmers.
Reacting on the destruction of crops, NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh regretted that despite huge devastation of paddy as well as the agricultural fields, the Govt had failed to announce any relief package despite the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Jammu. He said that paddy growers had suffered huge damages to their standing crops due to vagaries of weather which needed immediate attention of the government. He said that massive downpour of rains and impact of hailstorm had led to water logging and burying of the produce with the farmers left high and dry.
Senior BJP leader and Convener of Tawi Andolan and Namami Gange, Chander Mohan Sharma expressed his dismay over the misfortune saying that the J&K administration has not yet taken any cognizance of devastating damage of corps and other loses of farmers in Jammu province.
He urged upon the Lieutenant Governor to come to the rescue of rural masses by ensuring the assessment of huge losses and order proper relief to the farmers at earliest.
Commenting on the damages by hailstorm and rains, Kissan Sabha President Hari Chand Jalmeria (Advocate) expressed grave concern over the devastation of Kharif Crops in Jammu Province as well as in Kashmir due to heavy hailstorm accompanied with rain. Reviewing the situation, the Kissan Sabha has observed that it was first time when such devastating storm gripped both the provinces and destroyed ripening paddy, other Kharif crops, vegetables, animal fodder and fruit trees which is the mainstay of the farming community.
The farmers have suffered unprecedented losses. Senior Congress Leader Mohinder Bhardwaj has said that the farmers and orchardists have suffered immense loss to their crops and produce due to unprecedented and unseasonal rains/hailstorm that have lashed the entire Jammu region and in particular the paddy growing belt all along the International Border (IB) and other areas. He said that while there is a hue and cry in the farming community about the total loss of their crops, the administration is still to wake up to the serious problem heaped on the farmers due to vagaries of nature. “It is rather shocking that the UT administration has only been making false promises with the farmers and no compensation has been provided to them during the last four to five years whenever such calamity led to destruction of their crops. This is high time that all their past dues are cleared and new compensation should also be announced for which fact-finding teams of experts should be constituted immediately to assess losses and submit their report in a time-bound-manner,” he added. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Vice Chairman Wool and Woolen Export Promotion Council (WWEPC), Romesh Khajuria demanded compensation from the Government for farmers, whose crops have been damaged due to the heavy rains/hailstorms. “The farmers need immediate compensation so that they clear their fields of the damaged crops with the help of laboures,” he said adding, “the season of next crop also depends upon sale of these damaged crops and if delayed in compensation, the farmers may lose the next crop as well” he said.
Social Activist Gurmeet Singh Baaghi, reacting to the current situation of farmers, said that the Government should waive off farmers loans and electricity charges as the farmers are not in a position to pay the instalments of the loan or electricity charges. These poor farmers have no other means of earning. As the crops, fruits and vegetables have been damaged, the farmers' loans as well as electricity bills should be waived off. He further urged the government to bring in comprehensive insurance schemes for the farmers where the produce of the farmers is fully covered in case of such natural calamities. Former MLA and JKPCC Senior Leader Th. Balbir Singh has demanded compensation for the farmers who lost their standing paddy crops and fruits in the recent hailstorm. “The administration should constitute assessment teams and send them to the remote areas like Bani, Basohli, plain areas, and other places of Kathua District so that the farmers could get adequate compensation,” he added. Apni Party Provincial President and Former Minister Manjit Singh said, “Nothing has been left for the farmers as all the paddy crops which are almost ready are destroyed in the heavy rains and hail storm.” “It is time to stand with the farmers and provide them all necessary support and compensation so that they overcome the devastation they have faced,” he added.
He said that the administration should immediately make an assessment of the losses suffered by the farmers and provide compensation accordingly.
