Srinagar, June 09: Jammu Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) on Tuesday expressed concern over the slack attitude of the administration towards agrarian requirements in the Kashmir region.
In a press statement, JKPM Vice president Feroze Peerzada has stated that there has been a lackadaisical approach of the government in relation to the irrigation requirements of farmers. “The government has failed to carry out the annual desilting of irrigation canals and field channels. As a result, framers of the Kashmir division are deeply worried, ” he said.
Feroze Peerzada further said that this can result in a decline in the annual produce. He said that despite various distress calls from farmers from time to time, it appears that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
He expressed disappointment over the failure of the administration to ensure smooth supply of pesticides, fertilizers and seeds to farmers and orchardists during the prevailing lockdown in view of global Covid-19 crises. “The orchardists in my home district Baramulla and other areas of the valley were badly impacted due to snow in the winter season and no compensation was provided to them by the government, ” he said and added “The government should have added chemicals and pesticides in the list of essential commodities so that the same are made available to the orchardists”, Feroze said in his statement.
Meanwhile, JKPM State Executive Member from Pulwama Javed Ahmed Wani said that the orchardists in Kashmir have been undergoing a tough time for the last many years. “Last year on account of lockdown due to the abrogation of Article 370, they were not able to sell their produce and suffered huge losses, ” he said.
Javed Wani further said that the claims of administration in ensuring smooth supply of chemicals to orchardists stand debunked in view of the acute shortage of such condiments on the ground.
He also expressed concern about the difficulties faced by orchardists in selling their produce in J&K and outside due to Covid19 restrictions and demanded that the government must step in and help the orchardists.