JJ CORRESPONDENT
Jammu, Oct 27: In the wake of paddy crop damaged due to heavy rains and hailstorm, Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Farooq Khan on Wednesday said that the government is working on subsidy provision on seed and fertilizers to facilitate farmers. Regarding Paddy straw problem, he recommended popularization of the use of decomposer to dispose of logged paddy straw and said, “The government is working on provision of subsidy on seed and fertilizers for next crop to facilitate the farmers.” Khan was interacting with a group of farmers of Jammu division who met him here at Civil Secretariat regarding the issue of crop losses due to recent rains and hailstorm in parts of Jammu division. Advisor had detailed information regarding damage to standing as well as harvested Paddy crop in the region.
He was apprised that Paddy crop has suffered major loss as it was in harvesting stage and being grown on extremely vast areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
He had an elaborate interaction with the farmers who gave a detailed account of extensive damage to Paddy crop due to recent rains, hailstorm and stagnation of rain water in fields, lodging of crops and further anticipated losses to Rabi crops due to excessive moisture in soil leading to delayed sowing.
Farmers apprised him that immense losses have occurred to agricultural crops like Paddy, Vegetables, Potato, Fodder, Oil Seeds and appealed for providing adequate compensation to those who suffered losses due to incessant rains. Advisor asked the officers to assess realistic impact of inclement weather conditions on agriculture sector and extend technical hand to farmers in order to tackle the situation emerged out of the prevailing scenario by devising a strategy for upcoming Rabi season to compensate crop losses to some extent.
Advisor issued directions to the field functionaries of Agriculture Department to conduct joint survey along with revenue officials by organizing meetings with the farmers of all villages to get and prepare detailed digitalized report of crop damages at the earliest.
He enjoined upon the insurance companies to immediately settle the claims of crops under PM Fasal Bima Yojna. He also instructed the Department to plan for opening of maize procurement mandies in maize growing districts as soon as possible. UNI
