The Jammu KashmirApni Party (JKAP) leader Mohammad Dilawar Mir has urged the UT government ofJ&K to include production, supply and distribution of fertilizers andagrochemicals in the list of essential commodities and services notified by thegovernment for farmers, fruit growers and orchardists of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statementissued here, Mir observed that while the government has put necessaryrestrictions on public movement and other services in view of the situationarising due to COVID-19, the farming community and fruit growers in Jammu andKashmir are suffering for want of fertilizers and agro chemicals, which aredirely needed in this season.
“The governmentshould keep in view that the summer crop is not only a key crop cycle forfarmers but is equally important for the growth of Jammu and Kashmir’s economywhich largely depends on the agricultural sector,” the JKAP leader remarked,adding that the government must notify and include the transportation offertilizers and agro chemicals in its essential services and commodities lists.
Mir said that dueto non availability of fertilizer and seeds, the farmers in J&K wouldlose crops and the overall crop production would be drastically impacted.”The use of fertilizers and oil and agro chemical spray in orchards is a timebound process to cope up with the apple scab which is already a declaredepidemic in the world. If these essential commodities are not made available tothe farmers and orchardists at this point of time the same cannot becompensated by any means in an off season,” he added.
Similarly, he saidthat it is unfortunate that the neighbouring state Punjab has already listedthe production, supply and distribution of fertilizers and agro chemicals inits notified lists of essential commodities and services post COVID-19advisories, the J&K government has ignored this important sector of seasonbound economy.
“The governmentcannot wish away the seasonal demand for agro chemicals and fertilizers whichconstitute an essential requirement of farmers and fruit growers in thisseason. The applicability of agro chemicals is imperative to keep the orchardssafe from devastating diseases and in case these chemicals are supplied to thefarming community, the same can have disastrous consequences for them,” Miradded.
He urged thegovernment to provide packing, grading and priority transportation facilitiesto the farmers and fruit growers so that the fruit stored in orchards and coldstores in Jammu and Kashmir is not allowed to rot due to the prevailinglockdown.