Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: Senior BJP leader and former Minister, Choudhary Sukhnandan today took the Agriculture Department of Jammu to task for its failure in taking up the issue of farmers who suffered heavy damages in recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm with the Government and seek the Market Intervention Scheme on pattern of fruit growers of Kashmir for them also
Talking to reporters here, today Choudhary Sukhnandan said that in Kashmir valley there was snowfall in the month of November but the Horticulture Department took up the issue with the higher ups in Government to bring Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Kashmir orchardists though which the Government purchased their fruit.
He said it is unfortunate that the Agriculture Department of Jammu failed to pursue the case of Basmati growers of Jammu who suffered heavy loss due to unseasonal rains in Jammu region in the month of November and December. Sukhnandan alleged that the Government has also failed to purchase the paddy from farmers in Jammu region and earlier in his Constituency seven purchase centers of paddy were established jointly by Food and Supplies Department and Agriculture Department and this time only four such centers have been opened, he added.
He appealed the Lt Governor, G C Murmu to look into this grave issue and take steps to provide a succor to farmers of Jammu.
He said by providing MIS in Kashmir Government provided a relief to farmers of Kashmir which is good but at the same time it should have taken care of Jammu farmers whose both Kharif and Rabi crops have been damaged. He said the farmers in this region are totally worried as their hopes have been dashed to ground.
They are unable to sow the wheat crop now as the season of sowing the crop has gone. He said Government of India had fixed MSP for Paddy at Rs 1835 per quintal but they have not purchased the same for farmers now. When they purchased fruit from Kashmir at high rate why did not they implemented such policy in Jammu and if not Rs 1835 will be given per quintal let them purchase paddy at Rs 1600 per quintal to provide a succor to farmer to some extent, he added.
Choudhary Sukhnandan said that the plight of farmers in Jammu, Akhnoor, RS Pura, Marh, Samba Bishnah, Hiranagar and Kathua is worst as Government totally ignored them. He sought immediate intervention of Lt Governor, G C Murmu towards the plight of Jammu farmers and urged him to come to their rescue by announcing a Market Intervention Scheme for Basmati growers of Jammu also.
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