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JAMMU: Sounding an alarm over the worsening condition of farmers in the Union Territory, Jammu-Kashmir Kisan Congress Chairman Bharat Priye has urged the government to immediately announce compensation for damaged crops and fix a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat.
Addressing the media on Friday, Priye said that erratic weather has compounded the distress of farmers who are yet to recover from last year’s floods. “Many crops were ruined in the floods last year. To this day, those farmers are under debt. Now the weather is also bad, and such circumstances have arisen. I request this government that this time the farmer should get the compensation he deserves for his damaged crop,” he said.
Priye pointed to a visible decline in wheat quality this season across several areas of Jammu. Displaying shriveled grains, he said the produce is far inferior to last year’s crop. “You can see the size of the seed. Look at the size of the wheat. It is completely shriveled. What price will it fetch in the market? No mill owner will give us a good rate for this,” he remarked.
He alleged that the seeds supplied this season were sub-standard and nearly four years old. “In various discussions it has come out that the seed that came this time at that rate was all sub-standard. You will get wheat of this same size only. This is a fraud with us farmers,” Priye said, calling it a “scam” that needs urgent inquiry.
Reiterating the long-pending demand for MSP, the Kisan Congress Chairman warned that further delay would push cultivators deeper into debt. “The farmer is our food provider. If he remains drowned in debt, then what will happen to this country? MSP is very much needed at this time. If some decision is not taken soon, the farmer will sink even deeper, and we will again see those worst scenes that were seen before,” he cautioned.
Priye said the Kisan Congress has been consistently raising farmers’ issues and trying to take them to the administration. “This is the most serious concern right now, and that issue is related to farmers. The administration must open its eyes and take some action on this as soon as possible,” he added. He appealed to the UT administration and the Central government to assess crop damage on the ground, ensure timely compensation, blacklist suppliers of sub-standard seeds, and announce MSP for wheat without delay.
