Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 9: In a strong push for safeguarding the interests of the farming community, Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Kissan Congress Chairman, Bharat Priye today submitted a memorandum to the Additional Commissioner in the office of the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, highlighting the pressing challenges confronting farmers across the Union Territory and seeking immediate government intervention.
The memorandum, submitted on behalf of JKPCC Kissan Congress and the farming community of Jammu and Kashmir, outlined a comprehensive 18-point charter of demands, aimed at addressing the growing economic distress faced by farmers due to rising cultivation costs, shrinking landholdings, erratic weather patterns, inadequate institutional support and market uncertainties.
Speaking on the occasion, Bharat Priye said that agriculture continues to be the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s rural economy and the primary source of livelihood for a vast section of the population. However, mounting input costs and recurring climatic challenges have pushed farmers into a cycle of financial hardship, necessitating urgent and decisive action from the administration.
Among the key demands raised was the complete waiver of electricity tariffs on agricultural irrigation pumps and tube wells to reduce farming costs and enhance agricultural productivity. The Kissan Congress also called for strict monitoring of seed quality and stringent action against those involved in the sale of fake or substandard seeds, pesticides and fertilizers that often result in heavy losses for farmers.
Expressing concern over recurring fertilizer shortages during crop seasons, the memorandum urged the administration to ensure uninterrupted availability of urea, DAP and other essential fertilizers through government outlets and cooperative societies.
The Kissan Congress further demanded the introduction of a subsidized diesel scheme for farmers to offset the rising costs of ploughing, irrigation, sowing and harvesting operations. The memorandum sought compensation at four times the prevailing market rate for land rendered inaccessible due to border fencing and security restrictions, along with special relief packages for those affected by cross-border shelling.
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