Alleging that the government’s callous attitude has created uncertainty among peasants and orchardists in the state, senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Sunday demanded one-time waiver of KCC and other agriculture loans to small farmers.
During daylong District Conference in Kulgam held under the presidium consisting of six members, the participants of J&K Kisan Tehreek expressed concern over various problems being faced by the peasants. While addressing the conference, Tarigami said that the core sectors of our economy agriculture and horticulture have totally been neglected by the government.
‘Despite the fact that ours is an agricultural state, major chunk of population is dependent on this sector and the state being vulnerable to natural calamities, crop insurance scheme was not implemented fully so far that can provide respite to the affected kisans. Though the announcement of crop insurance scheme was made by the government, it is unfortunate that the said scheme is not implemented so far here,’ he said.
He said it is an obligation for the government to come to the support and succor of the farmers and orchardists as they form the backbone of the state’s economy and have always been suffering on account weather vagaries.
‘The biggest challenge facing the growers and kisans is the menace of pests and diseases and in absence of any fool proof mechanism to curb the sub-standard and spurious pesticides, fungicides and fertilisers, the problems of kisans are further aggravated. The callous attitude of authorities has created uncertainty among peasants and orchardists,’ he added.
(UNI)
